Pittston Gazette

              lis • _ a V* Oldest Newspaper in Wyoming Vallev PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1900. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. JtlOOaTMr 1 la AdvuM. 4 81 mm ii ih t 3 4 ► ««»••« i f 0 C By REV. CHARLES \ \\ ■ Author of "In Hia Stops: What W 41 » ► Kirk," "Robert H*rdyD O: r • Copyright, 1899, by The I £E D ' in* h4h4mAmAmA¥ A If A V A V A M A M i I****- •r-;"'"-- ii m m m '* --■ * cised for all that I say and do. Ana yet i mow "f' the ministry will alwayi be the target for criticism. 1 have an almost morbid shrinking from the thought that people do not like me, that I am not loved by everybody, and yet I know that if I speak the truth in my preaching and apeak it without regard to consequences some one is sure to become offended and In the end dislike me. 1 think God never made a man with ao intense a craving for the love of his fellow men aa I possess, and yet I am conscious that I cannot make myself understood by very many people. They will always say, "How cold and unapproachable he is!" when in reality I love them with yearnings of heart. Now, then, 1 am going to llilton with all thla complex thought of rayaelf, and yet, dear chum, there is not the least doubt after all that I ought to go. I hope that in the rush at the work there I shall be able to forget myself, and then the work will stand out prominent aa it ought. With all my doubta of myaelf I never question the wisdom of entering the ministry. I have a very positive assurance aa I work that I am doing what I ought to do. And what can a man ask more? I am not dissatisfied with the ministry, only with my own action within it. It is the noblest of all professions. I feel proud of it every day. Only it ia so great that it makes a man feel small when be steps inside. Well, my wife is calling me down to tea. Let me know what you do. We shall move to Milton not week, probably; ao, if you write, direct there. As ever, your old chum, were In any need of your preaching?" the plain will of God, that all a uian has should be used in clean and honest ways, and he could never sanction the getting of money through such immoral channels. The man was finally induced to acknowledge that it was not Just the right thing to do and especially for a church member. But when Philip pressed him to' give up the whole iniquitous revenue and clear himself of all connection with it the property owner looked aghast. property tnju men acquire is reauD only in the nature of trust funds, which the property holder is In duty bound to use as a steward. The gold Is God's. The silver is God's. The cattle on a thousand hills, all land and water privileges and wealth of the earth and of the seas belong primarily to the Lord of all the earth. When any of this property comes within the control of a man, he is not at liberty to use It as if it were his own and his alone, but as God would have him use It to better the condition of life and make men and communities happier and more useful. duty of a Christian in the use of his property?" Mrs. Strong still loosed aisturoea and anxious. She was going over in her mind the probable result of Mr. Winter's antagonism to the minister. It looked to her like a very serious thing. Philip waB Inclined to treat the affair with a calm philosophy, based on the knowledge that his conscience was clear of all fault in the matter. on him, he siw nothing better to do than to go on with his work as if nothing unusual hud taken place. Philip appeared surprised at the question. He looked at his wife, and her face was serious. Iff Ml "It is my property, and if I or my agent choose to rent It to another man in a legal, business way, that is my affair. I do not recognize that you have anything to do with it" "Why, doesn't everybody need preaching? They may not stand in need of my preaching perhaps, but they ought to have some preaching. And I cannot help thinking of what is "the duty of the church In this place to the great crowd outside. Something ought to be done." [to bb ooirrnront.) "Not if I am convinced that you are doing what Is harmful to the community and the church?" THE POi TMASTER GENERAL; XT tA. SHELDON, f{ ould Jeaua Do f" "Xalcom *♦ Seven Bay*," Etc. Advance Publishing Co. f ♦ * M4iiAii4MA|(AyAtAr4li  Clrramateac«D Which Ciud Hi. Twice to Chu« His Slgastnre, "You have no business to meddle In our private affairs!" replied Mr. Winter angrily. "And If you intend to pursue that method of preaching I shall withdraw my support, and most of the influential, paying members will follow my example." "What do you suppose Mr. Winter will do?" Mrs. Strong asked. "He threatened to withdraw his financial support and said other paying members would do the same." The Hon. Charles Emory Smith, the postmaster general and one of the most famous after dinner orators in the United States, has had three distinct signatures. Each has a history, each a significance, and yet the change has never been ex* plained. "Philip, I am sure your work here will be blessed. Don't you think so?" "Why, Mr. Strong, do you know what you ask? Two-tltfrds of the most regular part of my income is derived from these rents. It is out of the question for me to give them up. You are too nice in the matter. All the property owners in Milton do the same thing. There isn't a man of any meuns in the church who isn't deriving some revenue from this source Why, a large part of your salary is paid from these very rents. You will get into trouble if you try to meddle in this matter. I don't take offense. I think you have done your duty. And I confess It doesn't seem exactly the thing. But, as society is organised. I don't see that we can change the matter. Better not try to do anything about it, Mr. Strong. The church likes you and will stand by in giving you a handsOme support, but men are very touchy when their private business is medilled with." "I know It will," replied Philip, with the assurance of a very positive but spiritually minded man. He never thought his Master was honored by asking him for small things or doubting the power of Christianity to do great things. "Do you think they will?" "I don't know. I shouldn't wonder if they do." From this statement Philip went on to speak of the common idea which men had that wealth and houses and lands were their own to do with as they pleased, and he showed what misery and trouble had always flowed out of the great falsehood and how nations and individuals were today in the greatest distress because of the wrong uses to which God's property was put by men who had control of it. It was easy then to narrow the argument to the condition of affairs in Milton. As he stepped from the general to the particular and began to speak of the rental of saloons and houses of gambling from property owners In Milton and then characterized such a use of God's property as wrong and un-Christlan it was curious to note the effect on the congregation. Men who had been listening complacently to Philip's eloquent but quiet statements, as long as he confined himself to distant historical facts, suddenly became aware that the tall, pale faced, resolute and loving young preacher up there was talking j-ight at them, and more than one mill owner, merchant, real estate dealer and even professional man writhed inwardly and nervously shifted in his cushioned pew as Philip spoke in the plainest terms of the terrible example set the world by the use of property for purposes which were destructive to all true society and a shame to civilization and Christianity. Philip controlled his voice and his manner admirably, but be drove the truth home and spared not. His voice at no time rose above a quiet conversational tone, but It was clear and distinct. The audience sat hushed in the spell of a geulne sensation, which deepened when, at the close of a tremendous sentence which swept through the church like & redhot flame, Mr. Winter suddenly arose in his pew, passed out into the aisle and marched deliberately down and out of the door. Philip saw him and knew the reason, but marched straight on with his message, and no one, not even his anxious wife, who endured martyrdom for him that morning, could detect any disturbance in Philip from the mill owner's contemptuous withdrawal. It was a cowardly threat on the part of the excited mill owner, and It roused Philip more than If he had been physically slapped in the face. If there was anything in all the world that stirred Philip to his oceanic depths of feeling, it was an intimation that he was in the ministry for pay or the salary, and so must be afraid of losing the support of those members who were able to pay largely. He clinched his fingers around the arms of his study chair until his nails bent on the hard wood. His scorn and indignation burned in his face, although his voice was calm enough.. "What will you do then? It will be dreadful to have a disturbance in the church of this kind, Philip. It will ruin your prospects here. You will not be able to work under all that friction."When Mr. Smith came from Albany to :ake the editorial chair of the Philadelphia Press, more than 15 years ago, ha signed himself in the good, onl fashioned way, Charles E. Smith. To his Intimates he was known as "Charlie." At that time another Charles E. Smith was the president of the Beading railroad, fend the letter carriers seemdl to have a persistent desire to entangle each mas In the other's confidence as much as possible. The most important letters coming for the editor were always delivered to the president, and vice versa. The conditions created annoyance, surprise iD' amusement. It continued for discussed and the masses are engrossed in the terrible struggle for liberty and home, where physical life thrusts itself out Into society, trampling down the spiritual and intellectual and demanding of the church and the preacher the fighting powers of giants of God to restore in men's souls a more Just proportion of the value of the life of man on earth.' where great questions are being le what that evening bad two letters, and be had reading them. He Bat 1b clasped over his knee, in his chair and looking his study window. He y thinking very hard, and ire were the cause of It . he rose, went to bis study and called down the stairs: I wish you would come up it your help.** Philip, I'D be up In a mln~W: - (MM below, D do. And always when he eaid "I" he simply meant, not Philip Strong, but Christ in Philip Strong. To deny the power and worth of that Incarnation was, to his mind, not humility, but treason. And the minister's wife suddenly broke down and had a good cry, while Philip comforted her, first, by saying two or three funny things and, secondly, by asserting with a positive cheerfulness which was peculiar tfto him when he was hard pressed that even if the church withdrew all support he (Philip) could probably get a Job some- It wag characteristic of Philip that in this letter he said nothing about his call to Elmdaie and did not tell his college chum what salary was offered him by church at Milton. As a matter of fact, he really forgot all about everything, exeept the one important event of his decision to go to Milton. He regarded it, and rightly so, as the most serious step of his life, and while be had apparently decided the matter very quickly it was, in reality, the result of fli deep conviction that he ought to go. He was in the habit of making his decisions rapidly. This habit sometimes led him into embarrassing mistakes and once In a great while resulted in humiliating reversals of opinion, so that people who did not know him thought he was fickle and changeable. In the present case Philip acted with bla customary quickness and knew very well that his action was unalter**. Philip Strono. The Snnday following Philip made this announcement to the people: "So, you see, Sarah," the minister went on after a little pause, "I want to go to Elmdale, but the Lord probably wants me uD go to Milton.". "Beginning with next Sunday mornlog, I shall give the first of a series of monthly talks on 'Christ and Modern It will be my object in these talks to suppose Christ himself as the one speaking to modern society on its sins, its needs, its opportunities, its responsibilities, its everyday life. I shall try to be entirely loving and Just and courageous in giving what I believe Christ himself would give you if he were the pastor of Calvary church in Milton today. So, during the talks, I wish you would, with me, try to see if you think Christ would actually say what I shall say In his place. If Christ were in Milton today, I believe he would speak to us about a good many things in Milton, and he would speak very plainly, and in many eases he might seem to be severe. But It would be for our good. Of course I am but human in my weakness. 1 shall make mistakes. I shall probably say things Christ would not say. But always going to the source of all true help, the spirit of truth, I shall, as best a man miy, speak as I truly believe Christ would If he were your pastor. These talks will be given on the first Sunday of every month. I cannot announce the subjects, for they will be chosen as the opportunities arise." ma a Mrs. Strong was silent She bad the ntmost faith In her husband that he would do exactly what he knew he ought to do when once he decided what it was. Philip Strong was also silent a moment. At last he said, "Don't you think so, Sarah?" "Mr. Winter, this whole affair is a matter of the most profound principle with me. As long as I live I shall believe that a Christian man has no more right to rent his property for a saloon than he has to run a saloon himself. And as long as I live I shall also believe that It is a minister's duty to preach to Mb church plainly upon matters which bear upon the right and wrong of life, no matter what is involved in those matters. Are money and houses and lands of such a character that the use of them has no bearing on moral questions, and they are therefore to be left out of the preaching material of the pulpit? It is my conviction that many men of property in this age are coming to regard their business as separate and removed from God and all relation to him. The business men of today do not regard their property as God's. They always speak of it as theirs. And they resent any interference,' as you call it, on the part of the pulpit Nevertheless I say it plainly, I regard the renting of these houses by you and other business men In the church to the whisky men and the corrupters of youth as wholly wrong and so wrong that the Christian minister who would keep silent when he knew the facts would be guilty of unspeakable cowardice and disloyalty to his Lord. As to your threat of withdrawal of support, sir, do you suppose I would be in the ministry if I were afraid of the rich men in my congregation? It shows that you are not yet acquainted with me. It would not hurt you to know me better!" where on a railroad or In a botel, Where there was always a demand for porters who could walk up several flights of stairs with a good sized trunk. y soon the minister's wife came rs into her study. ji it's the matter?" she said aa ae into the room. "It must be ing very serious, for you don't op here nnless yon are in great . You remember the last time led me, yon had shut the tassel ' dressing gown under the lid writing desk, and I had to cut •e. You aren't fast anywhere Philip sat listening to this speech, and 1i!b face grew whiter and he clinched his hands tighter as the man went on. When he had finished, Philip spoke in a low voice: ; ia going just a "Sometimes I almost think I missed my calling," said Philip, purposely talking about himself in order to make his wife come to the defense. "I ought to have been a locomotive fireman." "Thttl for your 1 am ge "I don't see how we can always tell exactly what the Lord wants us to do. How can you tell that he doesn't want yon to go to Elmdale? Are there not great opportunities to influence young Btudent life in a university town? Will not some one go to Elmdale and become pastor of that church?" "Mr. Bentley, you do not know me if you think any fear of the consequences will prevent my speaking to the members of my church on any matter where it seems to me I ought t« speak. In this particular matter I believe it is not only my right but my duty to speak. I would be shamed before my Lord and Master if I did not declare his will in regard to the uses of property. This question passes over from one of private business, with which I have no right to meddle, into the domain of public safety, where I have a right to demand that places which are fatal to the life and morals of the young men and women of the town shall not be encouraged and allowed to subsist through the use of property owned and controlled by men of influence in the community and especially by the memlDers of Christ's body. My brother," Philip went on after a painful pause, "before God, in whose presence we shall stand at last, am I not right in my view of this matter? Would not Christ say to you Just what I am now saying?" "On tl ident, a ment, M about a r." "The idea, Philip Strong! A man who has the gift of reaching people with preaching the way you dor "The way I reach Mr. Winter, for example!'' smiled qoalntly, "Yea, I am. a In a strait betwixt two. Let me id these letters, and you will see." So he began at once, and we will ?y the letters, omitting dates: "No doubt there is a necessary work to be done there. The only question Is, Am I the one to do it or Is the call to Milton more imperative? The more I think of it, the more I am QOQvinced that I must go to Milton." "Yes," said his wife; "the way you , reach him. Why, the very fact that you made such a man angry Is pretty good proof that you reached him. —iii men are not touched by any ordinary preaching." X'l re CHAPTER II. Within a week Philip Strong had moved to Milton, as the church wished him to occupy the pulpit at once. The parsonage was a well planned house next the church, and his wife soon made everything look very homelike. The first Sunday evening after Philip preached in Milton, for the first time, he chatted with his wife over the events of the day as they sat before a cheerful open fire in the large grate. It was late in the fall and the nights were sharp and frosty. r. Philip Strong: tar Sir—At a meeting of the Milton Calvary *ch, held lot week, it wag roted unanimou»ly extend yon • call to become putor of this irrh at » salary of »J,000 » year. We trust that i WiU Bad U in accordance with the will of i Head at the to accept thia decision op i part at Calvary church and becoa* ita paator. * church is in good condition aad baa the trty eupport of mart Of the leading famiUea in i town. It la the strongest in membership and racially of the (even principal churches hen. D await yaor reply, confidently hoping you will id* to come to us. We have been without a tied paator now (or nearly a year, aince the ith of Dr. Brown, aad we have united upon ■ aa the person moat eminently fitted to 111) the ipit of CaJrary church. The gr«oe of qur l/ird wtth ywt |a foeMU ot the chufch, William Wiirraa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. 'What do yon think of that 8ab?" asked Philip Strong, aa be finish- Caltaxi Chvbch, MILTO*. "Then," said the minister's wife, rising »uddenly and speaking with a mock seriousness that her husband fully understood, "X don't see why you called me up here to decide what you had evidently settled before you called me. Do you consider that fair treatment, sir? It will serve you right if those biscuits I put in the oven when you called' me are fallen as completely as Babylon. And I will make you eat half a down of them, sir, to punish you. We cannot afford to waste anything these times." "So you really think I have a little gift at preaching?" asked Philip slyly. "A little gift! It Is a great deal more than a little, Philip." "Aren't you a little prejudiced, Sarah?""No, sir. I am the severest critic you ever have iij the congregation. *If you only knew how nervous f ou sometimes make me! When you get started on During the week Philip spent several hours of each day in learning the facta concerning the town. One of the first things he did was to buy an accurate map of the place. He hung It up on the wall of his study and in after days found occasion to make good use of it. He spent afternoons walking over the town. He noted with special interest and earnestness the great brick tglUs by the river, five enormous structures with Immense chimneys, out of which poured great volumes of smoke. Something about the mills fascinated him. They seemed like monsters of some sort, grim, unfeeling, but terrible. As one walked by them he seemed to feel the throbbing of the hearts of five creatures. The unpalnted tenements, ugly In their unfailing similarity, affected Philip with a sense of almost anger. Ho had a keen and truthful taste in matters of architecture, and those boxes of houses offended every artistic and homelike feeling in him. Coming home one day past the tenements, be found himself in an unknown street, and for the curiosity of It he undertook to count the saloons on the street In one block. There were over 12. There was a policeman on the corner as Philip reached the crossing, and he Inquired of the officer if he could tell him who owned the property In the block containing the saloons. some exciting passage ijnd make a gesture that would throw a stone image Into a fit and then begin «d speak of something in a different way, like another person, and the first I am caught up and hurled into the subject ind forget all ab«ut you." "Thank yob," said Philip. "Are you tired tonight, Philip?" ask•d his wife. "What," cried Philip slyly, "not on 12,000 a year! But I'll eat the biscuits. They can't possibly be any worse than those we had a week after we were married—the on«f W« bought from tho bakery, yon remember," Philip added hastily, "Tea, the day has been rather trying. Did you think I was nervous? Did I preach well?" Philip was not vain in the least. He simply put the question to satisfy his own exacting demand on himself In preaching. And there was not a person in the world to whom he would have put such a question except Tils wife. Mr. Bentley shrugged his shoulders and said something about not trying to mix up business and religion. Philip sat looking at the man, reading him thfough and through, his heart almost bursting in him at the thought of what a man would do for the sake of money. At last he saw that he would gain nothing by prolonging t argument. He rose, and with the s.uie sweet frankness which characterized his opening of the subject he said: "Brother, I wish to tell you that It is my intention to speak of this matter next Sunday in the first of my talks on 'Christ and Modern 8oclety.' I believe It is something be would talk about in public, and I will speak of it as 1 think be would." "What for?" asked his wife, laughing. "For forgetting yon?" thousand dollars la twice M Q are yetting bow, Philip." u mercenary little creature, k of the salary first?" not think of It once In If JTQU wonlfl have a de. food suit of ciouies, 's wife, looking at When Philip closed with a prayer of tender appeal that the spirit of truth would make all hearts to behold the truth as one soul, the audience remained seated longer than usual, still under the Influence of the subject and the morning's sensational service. All through the day Philip felt a certain strain on him, which did not subside even when the evening service was over. Some of the members, notably several of the mothers, thanked him with tears In their eyes for the morning message. Very few of the men talked with him. Mr. Winter did not come out to the evening service, although he was one of the very few men members who were Invariably present. Philip noted his absence, but preached with his usual enthusiasm. He thought a larger number of strangers was present than he had seen the Sunday before. He was very tired when the day was over. All the time Philip was talking his manner was that of dignified indignation. His anger was never coarse or vnlgar. But when be was roused, as he was now, he spoke with a total disregard for all coming consequences. "I would rather be forgotten by yon than remembered by any one else," replied Philip gallantly. "And yon are such a delightful little flatterer that I feel courage for anything that may happen." ory "You saved yourself Just in time, then," replied the minister's wife. She nne close up to the desk and In a different tone said, "Philip, you know I believe in you, don't you ?" "No, I thought you did splendidly. 1 felt proud of You made some queer gestures, and once you put one of your hands in your pocket. But your sermons were both strong and effective. I am sure the people were impressed. It was very still at both services."rial « « "Yes," said Philip simply, "I am you da I am impulsive and impractical; but heart and soul and body and mind, I simply want to do the Will of God. Is it not so?' "I know It Is," she said, "and If you pt to Milton It will be because you want to do his will more than to please yourself." For the time being he felt as perhaps one of the old Hebrew prophets used to feel when the flame of Inspired wrath burned up In the soul of the messenger of God. "It's not flattery; it's truth, Philip. I do believe in you and jour work, and I am only anxious tha*you should succeed here. I can't bear to think of trouble in the church. It would almost kill me to go through such times as we sometimes read about." "We must leave results to God. I am sure we are not responsible for more than our utmost doing and living of necessary truth." Philip spoke courageously.smile. that may be, Sarah. But you the other letter," he hout discussing the salary Philip was silent a moment, And his wife went on: CSA*wl HILL Chcich, rone; The man who sat opposite was compelled to keep silent until Philip had ■aid what be had to say. It was Impossible for hint to Interrupt. Also It was out of the question that a man like, Mr. Winter should understand a nature like that of Philip Strong. He was white to the lips with passion and so excited that his hands trembled and bis voice shook as he iNplied to Philip: pea* Brother—At • meting of the Blmdale phi pel fill! church, held laet week Thunday, it WW mutetmouely voted to extead yon a call to bacocae putor of the church *t a aalary of $2,000 • year, with two moatiM* vacation, to be aelected at your on eoarenieace. The Chapel Hill church ia U a proeperoua condition, and «p#ny *f tha mem ben recall youf otfwc t* the oollefe with much pleasure. Thu U an eapedally atrong center for church work, the proximity of the boy** academy aad the unirerdty making the aituation one of great power to a maa who thoroughly undentanda and enjoys young men, aa we know you do. We moat earoeatly hope you will  tW» ¥ panlj hut a* from tha jDeart« of the people. We are. very cordially youm, in behalf of the church, Paoraaaoa Wellkax, Chairman of the Board ot Truateea. "What do you think of that?" asked the minister again. "The salary is Just the same, Isn't ttr "Pfow, pa rah," said the minister, "If I didn't know what a generous, unselfish heart you really have, I should get very vexed at you for talking about the salary as If that was the most Important thing." "The salary is very Important, though&u| y«u know, Philip, I would be at filling as you are to live or no salary if the grocer aad butcher would continue to feed us (or nothing. I wish from the bottom of my heart that we Could live without money." "It te a bother, isn't itr replied Philip, so gravely that his wife laughed heartily at his tone. "I am sure wo shall like it here, Philip, What do you think?" V1 cannot tell yet There is very much to do." "You must do your duty, of course, Mr. 8trong." replied Mr. Bentley, somewhat coldly, and Philip went out, feeling aB if he bad grappled with bis first dragon in Milton and found him to be a very ugly one and hard to kill. What hurt him as much as the lack of spiritual fineness of apprehension of evil in his church member was the knowledge that, as Mr. Bentley so coarsely put It, his salary was largely paid out of the rentals of those vile abodes. He grew sick at heart as he dwelt upon the disagreeable fact, and as be came back to the parsonage and went up to his cozy study he groaned to think that It was possible through the price that men paid for souls. "Yes. Then shall I answer the letter tonight?" a Ial iixi "¥«9, If you have decided, with my help, of course." "How do you like the church building r I that." "Bat," said Mr. i sorely short and co no trouble with th  words." "It is not what the auffer," was f' most suffer. in a " "Then yon don't feel this morning's work?" by "Of course, you foolish creature, you know I could not settle It without you, And as for the biscuits"— "It is aa easy audience room for my YOlce. I don't like the arrangement of the choir over the front door. I think the choir ought to be down on the plat* form In front of the people, by the aide of the minister." "No, I don't know that I do. I'm very sensitive, and I feel hurt at Mr. Winter's threat of withdrawing his support, but I don't feel disheartened "As for the biscuits," said the minister's wife, ♦♦they will be settled without me, too. If I don't go down and see to them." She hurried down stair* and Philip Strong, with a smile and a sign, took up his pen and wrote replies to the calls he had received, refusing the call to Elmdftle and accepting the one to Miltop. And so the strange story of a great hearted man really began. "You shall answer for these insults, sir. I withdraw my church pledge, and you will see whether the business men in the church will sustain such preaching." And Mr. Winter flung himself out of the study and down stairs, forgetting to take his hat, he had carried up with him. Philip caught it up and went down stairs with it, reaching him just as he was going out of the front door. He said simply, "You forgot your hat, sir." Mr. Winter took it without a word and went out, slamming the door hard behind him. "I believe most of the houses belong to Mr. Winter, sir." ..anell: The postmas -ust sign his name 'on an 1,000 times a day. This is 6, week. If yon have 17 lett« name, it means that yon mast letters a day, or 102,000 a wet Then Mr. Smith began, wit] his assistants, to try signi would embody his name and y work. Each letter was dispat carefully weighed as to value been a bag of gold. First hC C. Emory Smith, but some oi ly said: "Don't do that, or journal will never have The next morning as he was getting ready to go out for a visit to one of the mills, the bell rang. He was near the door and opened it. There stood Mr. Winter. "I would like to see you for a few moments, Mr. Strong, if you can spare the time," said the mill owner, without offering to take the hand Philip extended. for the work. Why should I? Am I not doing my best?" "That's one of your hobbles, Philip. But the singing was good, didn't yon think so?" "Mr. William Winter?" asked Philip. "Yes, I think that's the name. He Is the largest owner In the Ocean mill yonder." "I believe yon are. Only, dear Philip, be wise. Do not try to reform everything in a week or expect people to grow their wings before they have started even plnfeathers. It isn't natural.""Yes, the eholr is a good one. The congregation didn't seem to sing much, and I believe in congregational singing, even when there is a choir. But we can bring that about in time, I think." Philip thanked the man and went on toward home. "William Winter!" he exclaimed. "Is it possible that man will accept a revenue from the renting of his property to these vestibules of hell? That man! One of tbe leading members in my church! Chairman of the board of trustees and a leading citizen of the place! It does not seem possible!""And this bccause society is as it is!" • e exclaimed, as he buned his face In his hands and leaned bis elbows on his desk, while his cheeks flushed and his heart quivered at the thought of the tilth and vileness the money had seen and heard which paid for the very desk at which he wrote his sermons. When he had finished writing these two letters, he wrote another, which throws so much l\;ht on his character and his purpose in going to Milton that we will insert that in thl« ftqry a» be- Ing necessary to its full understanding. This is the letter: "Now, Philip." said his wife. In some alarm, "you are not going to meddle with the singing, are you? It will get you into trouble. There is a musical committee In the church, and such committees are very sensitive about any Interference." "Well, I won't," replied Philip, with a laugh. "Better trim your wings, Sarah; they're dragging on the floor." "Certainly. Will you come up to my study?" asked Philip quietly. The two men went up stairs, and Philip shut the door, as he motioned Mr. Winter to a seat and then sat dowa opposite. - He hunted up his hat, which was one of the things Philip could never find twice in the sane place, kissed his wife and went out to make the visit at the mill which he was getting ready to make when Mr. Winter called. Philip turned around, and there stood his wife. Her face was very anxious. "Tell me all about it, Philip," she said. Sunday evening they had talked over the fact of Mr. Winter's walking rhe newspapers would be flooded with * this old story before the signature had been out a week." Then he tried Charles B. Smith, and again a friend reminded Mm, "Don't do that after the battle you have waged to establish the Emory in roar name." Mr. Calvin Wells, the publisher of the Press, who was at the council, said: "Certainly-not, Mr. Smith. The editorial columns of The Press establishid your second name beyond dispute, and rou must never go back on that" Finally the signature was telescoped lown to the one which every postmaster ind letter carrier now knows. It has reained the letters which it ** ' for 15 My Dew Alfred—Two yesra ago, when wt left the seminary, TW remember we promised each other in cue either of ut left hii present parish be would let the other know at once. I did not ■uppoae when I came that I should leave to soon, but I have just written a letter which means the beginning of a new life to me. The Calvary church in Milton ha* given me a ca]}, and I have accepted it. Two months ago me church here practically west out of existence through % «nlon with the other church on the Israel. 7Da history of that mowing is ton long for me to relate here, but rtnee it took place I have been preaching ai a supply, pending the final aettlsmeut of "Well," said Philip, rousing up a little, "the singing is a very important part of the service. And it seems to me I ought to have something important to say about It, But you need not fear, Sarah- I'm not going to try to Change everything all at once." But before the week was out Philip had discovered facta that made his heart burn with shame and his mind rouse with Indignation. Property In the town which was being used for saloons, gambling houses and dens of wickedness was owned in large part by several of the most prominent members of his church. There was no doubt of the fact, Philip, whose very nature was frankness itself, resolved to go to these men and have a plain talk with them about It It seemed to hlm Uke a monstrous evil that a Christian believer, a church member, should be renting his property to these dens of Vice and taking the money. He called on Mr. Winter, but he was out of town and would not be back until Saturday night. He went to see another member who was a large owner in one of the mills and a heavy property owner. It was qC»t a pleasant thing to do, but f'hillp boldly stated the precise reason for his call and asked his member If It But Philip Strong was not one to give way at the first feeling of seeming defeat. He did not too harshly condemn his members. He wondered at their lack of spiritual life; but, to his credit be it said, he did not harshly condemn. Only, as Sunday approached, he grew more clear in his own mind as to his duty in the matter. Expediency whispered to him: "Better wait. You have only Just come here. The people like you now. It will only cauBe unpleasant feelings and do no good for you to launch out into a crusade against this thing right now. There are so many of your members Involved that It will certainly alienate their support and possibly lead to your being compelled to lose your place as pastor If it do not drive away the most influential members." "I have come to see you about your sermon of yesterday morning," began Mr. Winter abruptly. "I consider what you said was a direct insult to me personally." -• CHAPTER III. To his surprise, when he went down through the business part of the town, he discovered that his sermon of Sunday had roused almost every one. People were talking about It on the street —an almost unheard of thing In Milton. When the evening paper came out, It described in sensational paragraphs the Rev. Mr. Strong's attack od the wealthy sinners of his own church and went on to say that the church "was very much wrought up over the sermon and would probably make It uncomfortable for the reverend gentleman." Philip wondered, as he read, at the unusual stir made because a preacher of Christ had denounced an undoubted evil. His wife looked at him a little anxiously. She had perfect faith In Philip's honesty of purpose, but she sometimes had a fear of his Impetuous desire to reform the world. After a little pause she spoke again, changing the subject. natured smile. the question Is, what to dq i lattery" pasumed the minister, h of the two churches do you asked his wife. lid rather go to the Chapel Hill ts far as my preference is eon- "Then I should say you lied!" replied Mr. Winter sharply. - bought i-- rears ago, and it baa saved the postma* tcr general the formation of 5,000 letten a day, or orer 1,665,000 letters a year! It ia Ch. Emory Smithl—Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post. Philip sat very stilL And the two men eyed each other in silence for a moment. The minister reached out his hand and laid it on the other's arm, saying as he did so: "My brother, you certainly did not come Into my house to accuse me unjustly of wronging you? I am willing the matter tver in a friendly spirit, but I will not isten to personal abuse." "Wfcat did yon think of the congrega- Philip r cer 41 'hen why not accept their call, if la the way yon feeir white I should like to go I feel m K I ought to go to "I enjoyed ft, I thought It vw very attentive. There was a larger number oat this evening than I bad expected." Mr. iTUta* SmIoiIod. At one ot the big Republican man meetings In the recent campaign the printed list of rice presidents was head* ed by the name ot William M. Everts. To old timers the name recalled many things; to the new generation it possibly, meant nothing. Mr. Brails never leaves the old red brick mansion at the corner ot Fourteenth street and Seoond avenue. Callers there are very tew, aside from the families of his children and his former law partners. The giants in the Republican party today have forgotten him. If they were asked whether Mr. Everts were dead or living, it would probably puule most ot them to give an offhand answer.—New York World. , N "Did you like the looks of the people r "Is it, then," he asked himself, "such a remarkable piece of news that a minister of the gospel has preached from his own pnlpit against what is without question an un-Christian use of property? What is the meaning of the church in society unless It is just that? Is it possible that the public 1b so little accustomed to hear anything on this subject that when they do hear it it is In the nature of sensational news?" "Now, Pblilp, I don't see why, Id a choice of tbts kind, you don't do M yon feel inclined to do and accept the call that pleases you most Why should ministers be dolus what they ought instead of what they like? You never please yourself," "Well, tiaraM teplied Philip good naturedly, Hhis is the way of it TI13 church in Elmdale Is in a university town. The atmosphere of the place fa . pchoiaBtic. You Know i passed fon# years of student life there. With the exception of the schools, there are not a thousand people in the village, a quiet, sleepy, dull, retired, studious place. I love the memory of it I could go there as the p -"or of the Elmdale church and pr/ "to an audience of college boys in j&t year anC?' about rawC aehol'vmkt"They were all very nicely dressed." To all this plea of expediency Philip replied, "Get thee behind me, satan!" He said with himself, he might as well let the people know what he was at the very first. It was not necessary that he should be their pastor if they would none of him. It was necessary that he preach the truth boldly. The one question he asked himself was, "Would Jesus Christ, if he were pastor of Calvary church lo Milton today, speak of the matter next Sunday and speak regardless of all consequences?" Philip asked the question honestly, and after long prayer and much communion with the Divine he said, "Yes, I believe he would." It is possible that he might have gained by waiting or by working with his members in private. Another man might hav«t pursued that method and still have been a courageous, true minister. But this Is the story of Philip Strong, not of another man, and this Is what he did: There was something in the tone and manner of this declaration that subdued the mill owner a little. He was an older man than Philip by 20 years, but a man of quick and ungoverned temper. He had come to see the minister while in a heat of passion, and the way Philip received him, the calmness and dignity of his attitude, thwarted bis purpose. He wanted to find a man ready to quarrel. Instead he found a man ready to talk reason. Mr. Winter replied, after a pause, during which he controlled blmself by a great effort: "Now, Pbillp, you know tliat isn't what I mean. Did yQVJ like the people's fnpear* " H¥qu know I like all sorts and conditions of men." "Yes, but there are audiences and audiences. Do you think you WlU enjoy preaching to this one In Calvary church?" "You shall answer for these insults, sir." out of the church during the service and had anticipated some trouble. Philip related the facts of Mr. Winter's visit, telling his wife some things the mill owner had said. He pondered over these questions as be quietly but rapidly went along with his work. He was conscious as the days went on that trouble was brewing for him. This hurt him in a way hard to explain, but his sensitive spirit felt the cut like a lash on a sore place. "I think I shall," replied PhiUp, but be said It In a tone that might have meant a great deal more. Again there was silence and again the minister's wife was the first to break It. «'/ am convinced that I must go to Mil- Urn." "What did you say, Philip, to make him so angry? Did you give him a piece of your mind?" affairs, and ao I *m at liberty to accept a call elaewbere. I must amies the call from Milton waa a surprise to me. 1 hare never been there (you know I do not believe in candid*ting for a place), and ao I aappoae their church committee came up here to liaten to me. Two yegrs ago noting would hare iVtduded me to go to Hilton. Today it aeema perfectly clear that the Lord aaya to me, "Go." You kninr my natural inclination ia toward a quiu, acholarly pastorate. Well, Milton ia, aa you know, a noiiy, dirty, manufacturning town, full of workingmen, curaed with aakwna and black with coal amoke and unwaabed humanity. The church ia quite atrong in membership. The "Tear Book" gives if 600 member* last year, and Jt U coropoaed almost entirely of the leading families In the place. What I can do in such a church remalna to be seen. My predecessor there. Dr. Brown, waa a profound aerraoniser and 'generally liked, I believe. He was a man of the old school and made no attempt, I understand, to bring the church into contact with the masses. You will say that such a church ia a poor place in which to attempt y diSerent work. I do no( peceNtrily think so. The church of ChHst is In Itself. I believe, a powerful engine to eet In motion againat all evil. 1 have great faith in the memberahip of almost any church in this country to acoompliah wonderful thinga for humanity, and I am going to Hilton with that faith very strong in me. I feel aa if a very great *ork could be done there. Think of it, Alfred I A town of 00,000 workingmen. hall of them foreigners; f towp more than 40 saloons in full bl»*t, 9 toWn with teyen churchea of many different denominations all situated on one street and that street the most laahionable in the place, a town where the police records show an amount of crime and depravity tlmoat unparalleled in municipal annals—surely such a place preaenta an opportunity for tbe true church of Chriet to do some splendid work. I hope I do not overestimate the needs of the plaoe. I have known the general condition of thinga In Hilton ever since you and I did our summer work in the neighboring town of Clifton. If ever there waa missionary ground in America, it is there. J cannot undentsnd just why the call cornea to me to go to a place and take up work that in many waya ia ao distasteful to me. In one sense I shrink from it with a sensitiveness which no one except my wife and you could understand. You know what an almost ridiculous excess of sensibility I have. It aeema fcamettM impassible la* me to 4a the work thai "There wag a place in your sermon tonight, Philip, where you appeared the least bl{ embarrassed, aa you seem eoineUmes at home when you have some writing or some newspaper article on your mind and some one suddenly interrupts you with a question a good way from your thoughts. What was the matter? Did you forget a point?" "I consider that you purposely selected me as guilty of conduct unworthy §. church member and a Christian and made me the target of your remarks yesterday. And I wish to say that such preaching will never do in Calvary church while I am one of its members,""I gave him the whole of it," replied Philip, somewhat grimly, "at least all of It on that particular subject that he could stand." The original genius wbo bad evolved a great invention elevated bis feet on the mantelpiece and ruminated. HU Dilemma. When Sunday came, he went into his pulpit and faced the largest audience he had yet seen in Calvary church. As Is often the case, people who had heard of his previous Bermon on Sunday thought he would preach another like it again. Instead of that he preached a serinon on the love of God for the world. In one way the large audience was disappointed. It had come to have its lore of sensation fed, and Philip had not given it anything of the kind. In another way it was profoundly moved by the power and sweetness of Philip's unfolding of the great subject Men who had not been inside of a church for years went away thoughtfully Impressed with the old truth of God's love and asked themselves what they had done to deserve it—the very thing that Philip wanted them to ask. The property owners in the church who had felt offended by Philip's sermon of the Sunday before went away from the service acknowledging that the new pastor was an eloquent preacher and a man of large gifts. In the evening Philip preached again from the same theme, using it in an entirely different way. His audience nearly filled the church and was evidently deeply Impressed. "Now," he said, "the profits on this device are going to be immense. The raw materials cost but little, and the machine will come into anlversai use. 1 can form a stock company and let others share the profits with me, or 1 can develop it aloae and reap all tbe profits myself. If I do the one I shall be called a stock waterer and a swindler. If I do tbe other I shall be called a monopolist and a bog." (I Csu people the rest ot the tjme. v— Indulge my taste for reading aaC writing and enjoy a quiet pastoragC there to the end of my days." "Then, Philip, I dop't see why yoi don't reply to their call and te|| then jppu will accept, and wp will move a bnoe to Elnidaie and live and die there (tls a beautiful place, and I am sun ve could live very comfortably on thC alary and the vacation. There Is nC icatlon mentioned in the other call." op the other hand," con tin nee ft minister, almost as if he were alou* a arguing with himself and had' noi iril Uis wife's words, 'Ion the othei td, there is Milton, a manufacturing 11 of SO,000 people, mostly opera *. It Is the center of much thai be s tq the stirring life of the times is h we Jive. The J»bqD question U In the lives of those operatives. D are seven churches of different Moatlons, to the best of my edge, all striving after popularity wer. There Is much hard, stern o be done in Milton by the true of Christ, to apply his teachings s needs, and somehow I cannot ring a voice say: 'Philip Strong, vfllton and work for Christ, your dream of a parish where indulge your love of scholar-Cs quiet atmosphere of a unlD and plunge into the hard, necessary work of "Oh, dear! It seems too bad to have this trouble come so soon! What will Mr. Winter do? He Is very wealthy and Influential. Do you think—are you Bure that In this matter you have done Just right. Just for the best, Philip? It Is going to be very unpleasant for you." "Of course you refer to the matter of renting your property to sal.oon men and to halls for gambling and other evil uses," said Philip bluntly. "Are you the only member of Calvary church who lets his property for such purposes?" "It it right, my brotherf" '.'Jky I'-l) tell yon. Prom where I stand on the pulpit platform I can see through one of the windows over the front door. There is a large electric lamp burning outside, and the light fell directly on the sidewalk across the time to time groups of people went through that band of light. Of course I could not see their faces very well, but I soon found out that they were mostly the young men and women operatives of the mills. They were ou{ stroljjflg through the ItrfMt, which, I am tola, is a favorite promenade with them. I should thlhk as many as 200 passed by the church \ was preaching. Well, after gwhile | began to ask myself whether there was any possible way of getting those young people to come Into the church Instead of strolling past? And then I looked at the people in front of me and saw how different they were from those outside and wondered If It wouldn't be better to close up the church and go and preach on the street where the people are. And so, carrying on all that questioning with myself. while I tried to preach, causing a little 'embarrassment,! as you kindly £al£ty» DD the sermon." was true that he rented several houses in a certain block where saloons and gambling houses were numerous. The man looked at Philip, turned ?tDd and finally said It was a'fact, but none of Philip's business. When Sunday morning came, he went Into his pulpit with the one thought In mind that he would simply and frankly, in bis presentation of thC subject, use the language and the spirit of hiB Master. He had seen other property owners during the week, ami his interviews were nearly all similar to the one with Mr. Bentley. He bud uot been able to see Mr. William Win ter, the chairman of the trustees, as he had not returned home until very late Saturday night. Philip saw him come into the church that mowing) Just as the choir rose to sing the anthem. He was a large, flue looking man. Philip admired his physical appearance as he marched down the aisle to his pew, which was the third from the front, directly before the pulpit "Well, Sarah, I would not do differently from what I have done. What have I done? I have simply preached God's truth, as I plainly see it, to my church. And If I do not do that, what business have I In the ministry at all? I regret this personal encounter with Mr. Winter, but I don't see how 1 could avoid It." And he sat there and chewed tbe ead of a cold cigar till the pale autumnal light of the bleak day faded into the "It Is not a preacher's business to pry into the affairs of his church members!" replied Mr. Winter, growlug more excited again. "That is what 1 object to." "My dear brother," said Philip, with a sad but winning smile, "yon cannot imagine what it costs me to come to you about this matter. In one seqse it pay seem to you like Impertinent ©addling in your business. In another pense It Is only what I ought to do as pastor of a church which is dearer to ine than my life. And I have come to you as a brother in Christ to ask you If It seems to you Uke a thing which Ohrlst would approve that you, his disciple, should allow the property which has come Into your hands that you may use It for his glory and the building up of his kingdom to be used by the agents of the devil while you reap the financial benefit. Is It right, my brother?" fer30 Dr. World "In the first place, Mr. Winter," said Philip steadily, "let us settle the right and wrongs of the whole business. Is It right for a Christian man. a church member, to rent his property for saloons and vicious resortB where human life Is ruined?" "Did you lose your temper?" "No." "An Pain "There was some very loud talking. I could hear it away In the kitchen." "Well, you know, Sarah, the more Indignant I get the less Inclined I feel to 'holler.' It was Mr. Winter you heard. He was very much excited when he came, and nothing that I could conscientiously say would have made any difference with him." "That Is not the question." "What is?" Thilip asked, with his eyes wide open to the other's face. has proven to • r *5*3 I • ;1 When the hymn had been sung, the offering taken, the prayer made, Philip stepped out at one side of the pulpit and reminded the congregation that, according to his announcement of a week before, he would give the first of his series of monthly talks on "Christ and Modern Society.'* His subject this morning, he said, was "The illglit and Wrong Uses of Property." Mr. Winter answered sullenly: "The question is whether our business affairs, those of other men with me, are to be dragged Into the Sunday church services and made the occasion of personal attacks upon us. I for one will Qot sit and listen to any such preaching."1 4 "Did you ask him to pray over the matter with you?" In spite of all this Philip felt a certain element In the church had arrayed itself against him. Mr. Winter did not appear at either service. There were certain other abseLces on the part of men who had been constant attendants on the Sunday services. He felt, without hearing It, that a great deal was being said in opposition to htm; but, with the harden The man to whom the question was put made the usual excuses, that if he did not rent to these people other men Would, that there was no call for the property by other parties and If it were fat rented tp objectionable people It would, lie empty at a dead toaa, and at) -Run u* wwien mm tiBiwr "No. I do not think he was In a praying mood." uotia "Were you?" Oily 25o* ai F. W-1 *1 Philip hesitated a moment and then replied seriously: "Yes, I truly believe I was—that Is, I should not have been ashamed at any part of the  to put myself Into loving communion via, mj Hsp-veoly rathwt." "But aside from the matter of private business, Mr Winter, let us settle whether what you and others are doing l» right. Will you let the Other matter flWfcnmn—It aultttlt wh*t.i%u* He started out with the statement, which be claimed waa verified everywhere la tha. wucd ofc. QodL that all