The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-01-25
CHAPTER II.

next the CHURCH. anu MS wire SOOI
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 q
cheerful open fire in the large CRATE
II was late In the fall and the nights
were sharp and frosty.
Are you tired tonight, Philip" ask
ed his wife.
Yes, the day has been rather try.
ing. Did you think l was nervousi
Did / preach Tell?' 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 person in the world to
whom he would have put such q ques,
ton except his wife.
mo, | thought you did splendidly.
felt proud of you. You made some
queer gestures. and once you put one
of your hands in your pocket. But your
sermons were both strong and effect
i've. | am sure the people were i'm.
pressed. II was very still at both sery.
ices"
Philip was silent moment And his
wife went on:
Il am sure we shall like it here,
Philip. What do you thinkf"
Il cannot tell yet. There is very
much to do" .....
''How do you like the church build.
mgr
1T is an easy audience room for my
voice. don't like the arrangement of
the choir over the front door. | think
the choir ought TO be down on the plat
form in front of the people. by the side
Of the minister"
That's one OF your hobbies, Philip.
But the singing was good, didn't you
think sou
Yes, the choir is a good one. The
congregation didn't seem to sing much.
and believe in congregational singing,
even when there is a choir. But we
can bring that about i'm time, think"
Now, Philip" said his wife, in some
alarm. you are not going to meddle
with the singing, are you? 1t will get
you into trouble. There is a musical
committee in the church. and such COM
mittees are very sensitive about any
interference"
We'll" said Philip, rousing up a lit
de, the singing is very important
part of the service. And it seems 10
me / ought to have something impor-
tant to say about it. But you need not
fear, Sarah. I'm NOT going to try to
change everything all at oncep
His wife looked at him a little atix-
iously. She had perfect faith in Phil
Dps honesty of purpose, but she some
times had fear of his impetuous de-
sire to reform the world. After little
pause she spoke again, changing the
subject.
What did you think of the congrega-
ton, Philip
Il sTioyed 1t. | thought it was very
attentive. There was larger number
out this evening than | had expected"
"Did you like the looks of the peo-
ple?"
"They were all very nicely dressed"
Now, Philip. you know that isn't
what / mean. Did you like the peo-
pies facesf"
you know like all sorts and condi-
tons OF men,
"Yes, but there are audiences and au-
diences. Do you think you will enjoy
preaching to this one in Calvary
church,
II think | SHALL" replied Philip; but
he said il 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.
''There was a place in your sermon
tonight. Philip. where you appeared
the least bit embarrassed, as you seem
sometimes at home when you have
some writing or some newspaper ar
ticle on your mind and some one sud
denly interrupts you with question a
good way from your thoughts. What
was the matter? Did you forget a
point?'
"No, III tell you. From where !
stand on the pulpit platform / can see
through one of the windows over the
front door There is large electric
lamp burning outside, and the light fell
directly on the sidewalk across the
street. From time to time groups of
people went through that band of
light. OF course / could not see their
faces very well. but / soon found out
that they were mostly the young men
and women operatives Of the mills.
They were out strolling through the
street, which, | am told, is favorite
promenade with them. | should think
as many as 200 passed by the church
while / was preaching. Well. after
awhile began TO ask myself whether
there was any possible way of getting
those young people to come into the
church instead OF stroiiing pastf And
then looked at the people in front OF
me and saw how different they were
from those outside and wondered IL II
wouldn't be better 20 close up the
church and go and preach on the street
where the people are. And SO. carry.
ing on all that questioning with my.
self, while tried to preach. causing a
little embarrassment as you kindly
call IL, in the sermon"
Il should think sol But how do You
know, Philip, that those people outside
were In any need Of your preachingr
Philip appeared surprised at the
question. He looked at his wife. and
her face was serious.
"Why, doesn't everybody need
preaching? They may not stand In
need OF my preaching perhaps, but
they ought to have some preaching
And / cannot help thinking OF what Ii
the duty OF the church in this place tc