Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-03-08

talking about HliHSelI III olutA " AhahN
his wife come to the defense. Il ought
to have been q locomotive fireman
"The idea. Philip Strong! 4 man
who has tine gift OF reaching people
with preaching the way you dor
"The way | reach Mr.. Winter, for
example"
| yes" said his wife: the way you
reach him. Why, the very fact that
you made such man angry is pretty
good proof that YOU reached him.
Such men are not touched by any ordi-
nary preaching
so you really think have a little
gift at preaching?" asked Philip slyly.
"A little gift. 1t is a great deal more
/ than little. Philip
Aren't you little prejudiced' Sa-
rahY'
NO. sir. am the severest critic you
/ ever have in the congregation. II you
only knew how nervous you sometimes
make me, When you get started on
some exciting passage and make ges'
l ture that would throw a stone image
| into a fit and then begin to speak of
something in a different way, like an
I other person, and the first l know am
caught up and hurled into the subject
and forget all about YOU
Thank YOU" said Philip.
"What for?' asked his wife, laugh
ing. For forgetting your
Il would rather be forgotten by you
than remembered by any one else re-
piled Philip calamity "And you are
such a delightful little fiatterer that !
feel courage for anything that may
happen"
Its not fattcry; it's truth, Philip. /
do believe In you and your work, and l
am only anxious that you should sue
coed here. / can't bear TO think Of
trouble In the church. 1t would almost
kin me to 90 through such times as we
sometimes read about"
I'VE must leave results 10 God. |
am sure we are not responsible for
more than our utmost doing and living
of necessary truth" Philip spoke cour-
agcOuSly.
Then you don't feel disheartened by
this mornings work.
mo, | don't know that l do. I'm
very sensitive, and feel hurt at Mr.
Winters threat of Withdrawing his
support but | don't feel dlsheartened
for the work. Why should II Am
not doing my bestY'
II believe you are. Only, dear Phil
ip, be wise. DO not try TO reform
everything in a week or expect people
to grow their wings before they have
started even pinfeathers. IL isn't nat
ural"
"Well, l won't" replied Philip, with
a laugh. Better trim your wings Sa-
rah; they're dragging on the floor"
lie hunted up his hat, which was one
of the things Philip could never find
twice in the same place. kissed his
wife and went out to make the visit
ut the mill which he was getting ready
TO make when Mr.. Winter called.
To his surprise, when he went down
through the business part of the town.
he discovered that his sermon of sun
day had reused almost every one. PeO-
pie were talking about it on the street
an almost unheard of thing In Mil
ton. When the evening paper came
out. il described in sensational para
graphs the Rev Mr.. Strong's attack on
the wealthy sinners Of his own church
end went on TO say that the church
was very much wrought up over the
sermon and would probably make it
fat ssl1 faf taa
man" Philip wondered, as he read,
at the unusual stir made because a
preacher of Christ had denounced an
undoubted evil.
lis il. then" he asked himself, such
a remarkable piece of news that a min
lister of the gospel has preached from
his own pulpit against what Is without
question an un-Christian use of proper.
ty? What is the meaning of the church
in society unless it is just thai? Is 1t
possible that the public is so little ac-
customed TO hear anything on this sub
ject that when they do hear II II is in
the nature Of sensational newsT'
lie pondcred over these questions as
he quietly but rapidly went along with
his work lie was conscious as the
days went on that trouble was brew
ing for him. This hurt him in a way
hard to explain. but his sensitive spirit
felt the cut like lash on a sore place
When Sunday came, he went into his
pulpit and faced the largest audience
he had yet seen in Calvary church. As
is often the case, people who had heard
Of his previous sermon on Sunday
thought he would preach another like
il again Instead of that he preached
a sermon on the love of God for the
world. In one way the large audience
was disappointed. Ii had come to
have its love OF sensation fed. and
Philip had not given il anything of the
kind. In another way IL was profound
ly moved 10y the power and sweetness
Of Philips unfolding of the great sub
ject Men who had not been inside Of
a church for years went away Thought
fully impressed with the old truth of
Gods love and asked themselves what
they had done 10 deserve 1.-THE very
thing that Philip wanted them TO ask. |