Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-05-03
The Crucifixion of
Philip Strong.
By REV. CHARLES M. SHELDON.

y
said Philips guest while Mrs. Strong
was removing the small table to the
dining room.
Did you:" asked Philip, because he
could not think Of anything wiser to
say.
Yes" said the strange visitor sim
ply. He was so silent after saying this
one word that Philip did what he new
or was in the habit of doing. lie al
ways shrank back sensitiyely from
asking for an opinion Of his preaching
from any one except his wife But now
he could not help saying:
What did you think of itf"
1T was one Of the best sermons |
ever heard, But somehow it did not
sound sincere"
WHAT" exclaimed Philip almost au-
| grily. If there was one thing he felt
sure about, it was the sincerity of his
preaching. Then he checked his feel
| ing as he thought how foolish it would
be to get angry at a passing tramp
who was probably a little out of his
mind. Yet the mans remark had a
strange power over him He tried to
shake it off as he looked harder at
him. The man looked over at Philip
and repeated gravely, shaking his head,
Not sincere"
Mrs. Strong came back into the room,
and Philip motioned her to sit down
near him while he said. And what
makes you think l was not sincere?'
You said the age in which we lived
demanded that people live in far sim
pier, less cXtravagant style"
Yes, that is what | said. l believe
it, too" replied Philip, rlasping his
hands over his knee and gazing at his
singular guest with earnestness. The
mans thick white hair glistened in the
open freight like spun glass.
"And you said that Christ would not
approve Of people spending money for
flowers. food and dress on those who
did not need it when it could more wise B
ly be expended for the benefit u those
who We're in want"
Yes. Those were not my exact
words, but that was my idea"
'Your idea. Just SO. And yet we
have had here in this little lunch, or,
as you called ii, bite Of something
three different kinds Of meat, two kinds
of bread, dollhouse grapes and the rich
est kind of milk"
The man said all this in the quietest,
calmest manner possible, and Philip
stared at him. more assured than ever
that he was little crazy. Mrs Strong
looked amused and said, You seemed
to enjoy the lunch pretty Well" Tile
man had eaten with "A zest that was
redeemed from greediness only by a
delicacy of manner that no tramp ever
possessed
My dear madam said the man,
perhaps this was a case where the
food was given to one who stood really
in need of IT,"
Philip started as If he had suddenly |!
caught meaning from the mans I
words which Ire had not before heard I
In them /
do you think it was nm extravagant /
lunch them" he asked, with a very /
slight laugh
The man looked straight at Philip F.
and replied slowly, Yes, for the times
in which we live"
A sudden silence fell on the group Of /
three in the parlor Of the parsonage,
lighted up by the soft glow of the coal .
fire. No one except a person thorough
ly familiar with the real character Of !
Philip Strong could have told why that
silence fel on him instead of a careless
laugh at the crazy remark Of a half
witted stranger tramp. Just how long
the silence lasted lie did not know;
only, when it was broken, he found
himself saying:
Man, who are you? Where are you
from? And what is your nameT'
His guest turned his head a little and
replied: When you called me in here, 4
5ou stretched out your hand and called
me brother Just now you called me
by the great term. man These are
my names. You may call me Brother
Man"
WEN tHtn' bIOlntE man. Salu
Philip, smiling little to think Of the
rery stangeness Of the whole affair.
your reason for thinking | was not
sincere in my sermon this morning was
because of the extravagant lunch this
,veningT'
Not altogether. There are other
'easons.' The man suddenly bowed
lis head between his hands. and Phil
p's wife whispered TO him: Philip,
what is the use of talking with a crazy
nani You are tired, and it is time to
Dut out the lights and go to bed. Get
aim out Of the house now as soon as
rou can"
The stranger raised his head and
went on talking just as if he had not
broken off abruptly.
Other reasons. In your sermon you
ell the people they ought TO live less
You point them TO the
in this town where thousands
II men are out of work. You call at
ention TO the great poverty and dis
-ress all over the world, and you say
he times demand that people live far