The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-05
storles About rhIIIps Hrooks.


To those Of us who were privileged TO
be touched by the life Of Phillips Brooks
two words will forever have a new mean-
ing Never again TO us can the words
inspiration and revelation be made TO in
clude the pessimism in Ecclesiastes, the
approving records Of ferociOus slaughter
in the HebreW chronicles, the denuncia-
tory psalms, and be made TO exclude the
burning words of faith and the message
from the Most High which was delivered
to this generation by our New England
prophet. Far more than his printed
words was his life. 1t was a life inspired
Of God. and revealing God.
To those whose hearts are heavy with
their loss, who find no dimiuution in II
as the months 90 on no words have SEEM
ed more true and touching than those
uttered from Trinity pulpit after his
death:
" There was a man sent from God
whose name was John, the same came to
bear witness to the light So runs the
Gospel. You and J. who write another
Gospel, yet unchanged, use the same
words: There was a man sent from God
whose name was Phillips Brooks
For once in history, the adage, "a
prophet is not without honor save in his
own country" proved false. 1t was to
those who saw him day by day that his
life meant the most. He was the best
friend 1 ever had" said the man who
built his furnace fires. On the day OF his
fureral n car conductor forgot to collect
his fares, as he stopped to talk with a
Catholic and Jew among his passengers
and add his testimony 10 their words Of
love. A truckman coming suddenly on
The mounrful bulletin around which the
crowd gathered at the newspaper Office
on the morning of Phillips Brooks's
death. stopped aghast: 'ro think of such
as him being taken" he cried, land
such fellers as us left" Here are four
little stories of hundreds that might be
told which perhaps may help those who
never saw him to know what this inspired
life meant to oil this community.
A faithful member Of certain Boston
church, then without a pastor had en-
dcavored by occasional meetings at his
own house to hold together IN bonds Of
sympathy the diminishing little flock. He
had asked different clergymen of his own
denomination to conduct a half hour relig-
ioUa service, and this was followed by
social time. With many msgvings, and
shame at his own auddcity, ne finally
ventured to ask Phillips Brooks if he, too,
would conduct a service for we are like
the cCneys, a feeble folk" was his telling
plea to the busy man. GLADLY, If we can
Tx on a day" was his quick reply. Finally
a free evening was found, and he came
and prayed and talked with them as only
he knew how TO, and then. instead Of
with drawing, as the other busy clergy
men had done on previous occasions,
learning that the people wanted TO shake
hands with him, he staid, and holding the
baby of the household in one arm and
swooping down and catching a white kit
ten that had strayed in, in the other arm,
he thus gaily held reception. and gladden.
ed every heart with smiles and kind
words. AS ne went down the steps at
the close, he turned and said, in his
genuine simply way: 1T was so good
of you Dr., 10 let me have a chance
10 meet your people"
A young woman was sore distressed,
and knew not how TO counsel her friend
VINO had a serious, perplexing practical
question OF ethics 20 decide. 'How I
wish 1 knew what Philips Brooks would
SAL" she thought. and although. as a
total stranger TO him, It seemed presumpt-
uous, the need of the case finally induced
her TO write 10 him about It. An instant
reply came, asking her 10 call and state
the case more fully. She wrote that
she did not dare to take his time, for II
was Passion Week, and she knew the
strain upon him was great Again came
a note. with the message TO come. She
went he listened. weighing the case care
fully as II il were his own. and then rave
his judgment AS he babe her good-by
hc said. Il want TO knew how your
friend decides I shah esteem it great
favor AZ you viii WIZ and let me know"
A young convert came 10 him. thinking
herself fun Of ardor, and asked 20 be set
at some church work. He had just the
thing for her-had been pondering in vain
where TO get help. A poor woman must
undergo a surgical operation 40 the hos
pital on a certain day. There was
no one with whom 10 leave her children
Would the young lady so and care for
them2 She considered Il. and her heart
failed her she wrote 10 him that she aid
not think she could. When the day came.
however, she decided that at least she
would 20 and look the ground over on
climbing the stairs TO the tenement, she
heard a voice singing. and on opening the
door the sight that met her eyes was one
which that girl win never forget In
the midst OF a group OF uproarious young
STEERS sat the great man himself, mass
Of letters before him, singing 10 the chill
dren and trying TO do his work and her
work. too. He met her with a smile,
uttered no word OF rebuke. but merely
gathered up his papers and went his way.
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