People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1900-02-15

| Az" WV AOoule VI ulb ANNOUNCEMENT
was plainly visible in the stir that wen
over the congregation. He added in
quiet voice that all who volunteered {
make the pledge to do as Jesus woul
do were asked to remain after tn
morning service
Instantly he proceeded with his ser
mon His text was from Matthew viii
10, "Master. / will follow thee whittier
: sOever thou goest.
1t was a sermon that touched IN
deep springs Of conduct. 1t was a rev
citation to the people of the definition
their pastor had been learning. 1t tool
them back to the first century of Chris
tianity. Above all, it stirred them be
low the conventional thought of year
as to the meaning and purpose of churcl
membership. it was such a sermon as
man can preach once in lifetime ant
with enough in it for people to live OIL
all through a lifetime.
The service closed in hush that wa
slowly broken. People rose here ant
there few at a,time. There was a re
luctance in the movements of the peo
pie that was very striking.
Rose, however, walked straight on
the pew, and as she reached the aisl,
she turned her head and beckoned t.
Felicia By that time the congregation
was rising all over the church.
Felicia instantly answered her sis
ter's look
I'm going to stay" she said, ant
Rose had heard her speak in the same
manner on other occasions and knew
that Felicia's resolve could not b.
changed Nevertheless she went bach
into the pew two or three steps and
faced her.
Felicia, she whispered, and there
was a flush of anger on her cheeks,
"this is folly. What can you doR You
will bring disgrace upon the family.
What will father say? Come.
Felicia looked at her, but did not an.
swer at once, Her lips were moving
with petition that came from a depth
of feeling that measured a new life fol-
her. She shook her head
mo; | am going to stay. l shall
take the pledge. l am ready to obey it
You do not know why l am doing
this"
Rose gave her one look and then
turned and went ont of the pew and
down the aisle. She did not even stop
to talk with her acquaintance. Mrs.
Delano was going out of the church
just as Rose stepped into the vestibule
$50 you are not going to join the
doctors volunteer company" Mrs. De-
lano asked in a queer tone that made
Rose redden.
"No. Are your 1t is simply asburd
| have always regarded the Raymond
movement as fanatical You know
Cousin Rachel keeps us posted about it. q"
Eyes; | understand it is resulting in
a great deal of hardship in many cases.
For my part, l believe DR.. Bruce has
simply provoked disturbance here. It
will result in splitting Nazareth Avenue
church You see if that isn't so. There
are scores of people in the church who
are SO situated that they can t take such
a pledge and keep it. l am one of
them, added Mrs Delano as she went
out with Rose
When Rose reached home, her father
was standing in his usual attitude be-
fore the open fireplace, smoking cigar.
Where is Feliciar" he asked as Rose
came in alone
"She staid to an after meeting" re-
piled Rose shortly. She threw off her
wraps and was going up stairs when
MIR. Sterling called after her:
AN after meetingf What do you
meani'
"Dr. Bruce asked the church to take
the Raymond pledge"
Mr. Sterling took his cigar out of his
mouth and twirled 1t nervously be-
tween his fingers
ii didn't expect that of Dr. Bruce.
Did any of the members stayH''
81 don't know didn't t." replied
Rose, and she went up stairs, leaving
her father standing in the drawing
room
After a few minutes he went to the
window and stood there looking out at
the people driving on the Boulevard.
His cigar had gone out, but he still fin
gered it nervously. Then he turned
from the window and walked up and
down the room. A servant stepped
across the hall and announced dinner,
and he told her to wait for Felicia
Rose came down stairs and went into
the library, and still Mr.. Sterling paced
the drawing room restlessly.
He had finally wearied of the walking
apparently and, throwing himself into
a chair, was breeding over something
deeply when Felicia came in.
He rose and faced her. Felicia was
evidently very much moved by the
meeting from which she had Just come.
At the same time she did not wish to
talk too much about it Just as she en-
tered the drawing room Rose came in
from the library.
"How many staidi" she asked. Rose
was curious At the same she was skep-
teal of the whole movement in Ray
mond-
About a hundred" replied Felicia
gravely. Mr.. Sterling looked surprised.
Felicia was going out of the room He
nollad 20 h.