Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-01-31
CHAPTER XIV,

The following week Calvary church
held a meeting. 1t was one OF the
stormiest meetings ever held by the
members. In that meeting Mr.. Win
ter again, to the surprise Of nearly
all, advised caution and defended the
minister's action up to a certain point.
The result was a condition Of waiting
and expectancy rather than downright
condemnation Of the proposed action
on Philips part. 1t would be presenting
the church in a false light to picture
it as entirely opposed up to this date
to Philips preaching and ideas of
Christian living. He had built up
strong buttress Of admiring and be-
lieving members in the church. This
stood with Mr. Winters influence. as
breakwater against the tidal wave of
opposition now beginning to pour in
upon him. There was an element in
Calvary church conservative to de-
gree and yet strong in its growing be-
lief that Christian action and church
work in the world had reached GER
in the death or life Of the church in
America. Philips preaching had
strengthened this feeling. His last
move had startled this element. and
It wished to wait for developments.
The proposal of some that the minis
ter be requested to resign was finally
overruled. and it was decided not to
oppose his deSertion Of the parsonage,
while the matter Of reduction Of sal
ary was voted upon in the negative.
But feeling was reused to a high
pitch. Many Of the members declared
their Intention Of refusing to attend
services. Some said they would not
pay their pledges any longer. \ pre-
vailing minority, however. ruled in IA
vor of Philip. and the action of the
meeting was formally sent him by the
clerk.
Meanwhile Philip moved out of the
parsonage into his new quarters. The
daily paper. which had given Il senSa-
tional account of his sermon. laying
most stress upon his voluntary PROPOSE
ton referring to his salary. now came
out with a column and half devoted
to his carrying out of his determination
to abandon the parsonage and get near
er the people in the tcnemcnts The
article was widely copied and various
ly commented upon. In Milton his ac-
ton was condemned by many, defend
ed by some. Very few seemed to un-
derstand his exact motive. The ma
jority took it as an eccentric move ana
expressed regret in one form and an
other that a man Of such marked in
tellectual power as Mr.. Strong SEEM
ed to possess lacked balance and good
Judgment Some called him Il crank.
The people in the tenement district
were too much absorbed in their Suf-
ferings and seltishness TO show any
demonstration. 1t remained TO be seen
whether they would be any better
touched by him in his new home.
So matters stood when the first Sun
day Of new month came and Mr..
Strong again stood before his church
with his Christ message. 1t had been
a wearing month to him. Gradually
there had been growing upon him a
sense Of almost isolation In his pulpit
work. He wondered if he had inter-
preted Christ Alright. He probed deep
er and deeper into the springs Of action
that moved the historical Jesus and
again and again put that resplendently
calm. majestic. suffering personality
into his own pulpit in Milton and then
stood off. as it were. to watch what he
would in all human probability say.