Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-04-05
CHAPTER Xy

We cannot do better than give the
evening paper account Of the last serv-
ice in the series. With one or two
slight exaggerations the account was a
faithful picture Of one Of the most re-
markable meetings ever held in Milton:
Last night, it will be safe to say,
those who were fortunate enough to
secure standing room in Rev. Philip
Strong's church heard and saw things
that no other church in this town ever
witnessed.
I'm the first place, it was a most as
tonishing crowd Of people. Several Of
the church members were present, but
they were in the minority. The mill
men swarmed in and took possession.
It is not exactly correct to say that
they lounged on the easy cushioned
pews of the Calvary church. for there
was not room enough to lounge, but
they filled up the sanctuary and SEEM
ed to enjoy the comfortable luxury Of
it.
"The subject of the evening was
Wealth. and the president Of the
trades assembly Of Milton made
statement of the view which working
men in general have Of wealth as re-
latoi to labor of hand or brain. He
stated what to his mind was the rea-
son for the discomfort of so many at
the sight Of great numbers of rich men
in times of suffering or sickness or
lack of work. Why, just look at the
condition of things here and in every
large city all over the world he said.
Men are suffering from the lack Of
common necessaries while men of
means with money in the bank con-
tinue to live just as luxuriously and
spend just as much as they ever did
for things not needful for happiness.
1t has been in the power Of men Of
wealth in Milton to prevent almost If
not all Of the suffering here last win
ter and spring. 1t has been in their
power to see that the tenements We're
better built and arranged for health
and decency. 1t has been in their
power to do a thousand things that
money. and money alone, can do, and
l believe they will be held to account
for not doing some Of those things"
AT this point some one in the gal
lery shouted out, Hang the aristo-
cratsr Instantly Rev. Mr.. Strong rose
and stepped to the front of the plat
form. Raising his long, sinewy arm
and stretching out his open hand in ap-
peal, he said. while the great audience
was perfectly quiet: I will not allow
any such disturbance at this meeting.
We are here, not to denounce people.
but to find the truth. Let every fair
minded man bear that in mind
'"The preacher sat down, and the au-
dience cheered.
'"The president OF the trades assem-
bly, resumed the discussion, closing
with the statement that never in the
history Of the country had there been
SO much money in the banks and SO
little of it in the pockets of the people.
and when that was a fact something
was wrong, and 1t was for the men
who owned the money to right that
wrong, for 1t lay In their power, not
with the poor man.
"He was followed by a very clear
and intensely interesting talk by Rev.
Mr.. Strong on the Christian teaching
concerning the wealth Of the world.
Several times he was interrupted by
applause, once with Kisses, several
times with questions. He was hissed
when he spoke Of the great selfishness
Of labor unions and trades organiza
tions In their attempts to dictate to
other men in the matter Of work.
With this one exception, in which the
reverend gentleman spoke with his
usual frankness, the audience cheered
his presentation Of the subject and
was avidonfIv In norfoct symnathy