Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-03

sexton said In a low voice, He be-
lOnged 10 the southern Episcopal
church IN Virginia" Something in the
wistful look OF the sexton gave Philip
an Inspiration for what followed
brother he said, turning 60 the
sexton. what Is to hinder your bap,
tlsm and partaking Of the communion?
Yes. this Is Christs church wherever
his true discipies are"
Then the sexton brought a basin Of
wdter, and as he kneeled down by the
side Of the bed Philip baptized him
with the words: II baptize thee,
Henry, my brother. disciple Of Jesus,
the son and Of the Holy Ghost!
Amen"
Amen" murmured the man on the
bed.
And Philip. still standing as he was,
bowed his head saying. BLESSED Lord
Jesus, accept these children Of thine,
bless this new disciple, and unite our
hearts In love for Thee and Thy king
dom as we remember Thee now In THE
service"
He took the bread and said: Take,
eat This Is my b. - broken for you.
In the name of the Master, who said
these words, eat. remembering His love
for US"
The dying man could not lit his
hand 10 take the bread from the plate.
Philip gently placed a crumb between
his lips. The sexton, still kneeling,
partOok and. bowling his head between
his hands, sobbed Philip poured out
the wine and said. "ln the name Of the
Lord Jesus this cup is the new tesla.
ment In his blood shed FOR all mankind
for the remission OF sins" He carried
the cup 20 the lips Of the man and then
gave 10 the sexton. The smile on The
dying mans face died The gray
ehadow OF the last enemy was project
ed into the room from the setting sun
Of deaths approaching twilight The
son Of the old slave master was going
TO meet the mother OF the man who
was born into the darkness OF slavery,
but born again into the light Of God.
Perhaps. perhaps. he thought who
knows but the first news he would
bring TO her would b. the news Of that
communion? Certain IL Is thats his
hand moved vaguely over the blanket
II slipped over the edge of the bed
ard ZEN uDOn the bowed head n the
sexton and remained there as II In benz
edlction. And so the shadow deepened.
and at last Il was like unto nothing
else known 80 the sons 81 men on
earth. ana the spirit leaped out Of Its
clay tenement with the breath OF the
communion wine still on the lips OF
the frail, perishable body.
Philip reyercntly raised the arm and
laid II on the bed The sexton rose,
and, while the tears rolled over his
face he gazed long into the counte-
nance Of the son Of his old master No
division Of race now; no false and self
lsh prejudice here. Come. let the
neighbors OF the dead come In 70 do
the last sad offices 10 the casket, for
Che soul Of this disciple is In the man>
sions Of glory, and II shall hunger no
more. neither thirst any more, neither
shall the darkness Of death ever again
smile II, for II shall live forever In The
light Of that Lamb OF God who gave
Himself for the remis slon OF sins and
the life everlasting
Philip did what he could on such an
occasion. IL was not an unusual event
altogether. He had prayed by many
poor creature IN the clutch Of the last
enemy, and he was familiar with his
face In the tenements. But this par
ticular scene had a meaning and left an
IMPRESSION different from any he had
known before. When finally he was Of
liberty 10 go home for little rest be-
fore the evening service, he found
himself more than usually tired and
sorrowful. Mrs Strong noticed It as
he came IN. She made him lie down
and urged him to give up his evening
service.
mo. no, Sarahl can't do that I
am prepared. | must preachl I'll get
a nap, and then I'll feel better he
said.
Mrs. Strong shook her head. but Phil
In was determined. lie slept "a little.
ate y little lunch. and when the time Of
service came he went up 90 the church
again. As his habit was, Just before the
hour Of beginning, he went into the
little room al the side Of the platform TO
pray BY himself When he came out
and began the service. no one could
have told from his manner that he was
suffering physically. Even Mrs. Strong,
who was watching him anxiously, felt
relieved to see how quiet and composed
he was
He had commenced his sermon and
had been preaching With great elo-
quence for ten minutes when he Eel, a
strange dizziness and pain in his side
that made him catch his breath and
clutch the side OF the pulpit TO keep
from falling. II passed away. and he
went ON. IL was only a slight heslta-
ton. and no one remarked anything out
Of the way. For five minutes he spoke
with increasing power and feeling. The
church was filed IL was very pliet,
Suddenly, without any warning he
threw up his arms. uttered cry Of hall
suppressed agony and then fell over
backward. A thrill Of excitement ran
through the audience. For a moment
no one moved: then every one rose. The
men In the front pews .'ushed up 20 the
platform. Mrs. Strong was already
there Philips head was raised Phil
ip's old friend. the surgeon, was In the
crowd, and he at once examined him.