The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-08-16
By REV. CHARLES M. SHELDON,
Copyright, 1899. by The Advance Publishing Co.
made on the countcnancc.

|
he saw from the glass that hung over
| the keys that Mr.. Strong had not yet
appeared He began again at II Ger
tain measure, repeating it, and played
very slowly. by this time the church
was entirely filled. There was an air
of cNpcctant waiting rs the organ
again ceased and still Philip did not
come out. \ great fear came over
I Mrs. Strong She had half risen from
her seat near the platform TO go up
| and open the study door when it open
ed. and Philip came out.
Whatever his struggle had been in
that little room the closest observer
could not detect any trace of tears or
! sorrow or shame or humiliation. He
was pale. hut that was common; other
! wise his face wore a firm, noble. peace
| ful look. As he gaZcd over the cOngrc-
| cation it fell under the fascination of
his glauccs The first words that he
spoke in the service We're strong and
! clear.
He began TO speak very quietly and
|
that he had been asked to resign his
pastoratc of Calvary church. He made
| the statement clearly, with no halting
or hesitation or sentiment of tone or
| gesture. Then. after saying that there
! was only one course open To him under
| the circumstances. he went on to speak,
as he said he ought to speak. in defense
of lis Interpretation OF Christ ana his
teaching:
"Mrmhcrs of Calvary church. | call
! YOU to bear witness today that I have
tried to preach to you Christ and him
cruciied. ! have doubtless made mis-
takes: we all make them. | have Of
| Tended IN" rich men and property own
ers in Milton. could not help it. |
| was obliged To do so in order tO speak
Lord wuUlh speak. | have aroused op-
! position because ! asked men into the
church and upon this platform who do
not call themselves Christians, for the
purpose of knowing their reasons for
antagCnism to the church we love. But
the time has come, o my brothers,
when the church must welcome to its
councils In these matters that affect
| the worlds greatest good all men who
4 have at hrdfr the fui"n'> mt of tie
| Christ's teachings.
"But the cause which more than any
other has led to the action Of this
church has been, am fully aware, my
demand that the church members Of
| this city should leave their possessions
ana go and live with the poor wretch
cd. sinful, hopeless people in the lower
| town. sharing in wise ways with them
of the good things Of the world But
why do | speak Of all this in defense of
my action or my prcaching"
! Suddenly Philip seemed to feel re-
vulsion Of attitude toward the whole
of what lie had been saying. II was as
! if there had Instantly swept over him
| the knowledge that he could never
I make the people before him under
stand either his motive or his Christ
His speech so far had been quiet un-
impaSSiOnch. deliberate. His whole
change. People in the galleries notic-
ed it. and men leaned out far over the
railing. and more than one closed his
hands tight in emotion at the sight and
hearing of the tall figure on the plat
form.
"lcs." he said, Il love you. people
Of Milton, beloved members of this
church. would have opened my arms
to every child of humanity here ana
shown him. if | could. the bOundlcSS
love of his Heavenly Father. But. oh.
yc would not. And yet the love of
Christ. What wonderful thing it is!
How much he wished us to enjoy of
peace and hope and fellowship and
service, Yes. Srrvicc-that is what the
world needs today; service that is will
Ing to give a!l-all to him who gave all
to save us. O Christ, Master teach us
to do thy Will Make us servants to
the poor and sinful and hopeless. Make
thy church on earth more like thy
self"
Those nearest Philip saw him sud
denly raise his handkerchief to his
lips. and then, when he took it away,
it was stained with blood But the
people did not see that. And then, and
then-a remarkable thing took place.
On the rear wall of Calvary church
there had been painted, when the
church was built, Il Latin cross. This
cross had been the source of almost
endless dispute among the church
members. Some said it was inartistic;
others said it was in keeping with the
name of the church and had a right
place there as part Of its inner adorn-
ment. Once the dispute had grown so
large and serious that the church had
voted as to its removal or retention on
the wall. A small majority had voted
to leave it there, and there it remained.
1t was perfectly white, on a panel of
thin wood and stood out very conspicu.
ously above the rear of the platform.
1t was not directly behind the desk,
but several feet at one side.