The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-05-08

"Yes, quite a number. But nearly
! all the influential members were
against you. Philip, you have been
blind to all this"
DO you think 500" he asked simply.
maybe that is so. l have not thought
| of people so much as of the work
which needed to be done. 1 have tried
to do as my Master would have me.
But l have lacked wisdom or tact or
/ something"
mo, it is not that. Do you want to
know what / think?" His wife fondly
stroked the hair back from his fore
head as she sat on the couch by him.
''Yes, little woman, tell me-" To his
eyes his wife never seemed SO beauti-
full OF dear as now. He knew that
they were one in this their hour of
trouble.
well, have learned to believe since
you came to Milton that if Jesus Christ
were to live on the earth in this cen
tury and become the pastor of almost
any large and wealthy and influential
church and preach as he would have
to the church would treat him just as
Calvary church has treated you. The
world would cruelty Jesus Christ again
even after 1900 years of historical
Christianity"
Philip did not speak. He looked out
, again toward the tenements. The win
ter day was drawing to it's close. The
church spire still stood out sharp cut
against the sky. Finally he turned to
his wife, and almost with a groan he
uttered the words: Sarah, 1 do not
like to believe it. The world is full of
the love of Christ. 1t is not the same
world as Calvary saw"
| ''No. But by what test are nominal
Christians and church members tried
today? Is not the church In America
and England a church in which the
scribes and pharisees, hypocrites, are
just as certainly found as they were
in the old Jewish church? And would
not that element cruelty Christ again
If he spoke as plainly now as thenW
Again Philip looked out of the win
+, dow. His whole nature was shaken to
its foundation.
| II have made mistakes. 1 have been
lacking in tact. ! have needlessly Of
| Tended the people" he said to his wife
| yielding almost for the first time to a
great fear and distrust of himself, fol
the letter asking his resignation had
shaken him as once he thought impos
sible. Il have tried to preach and act
as Christ would, but l have failed tc
interpret him Alright. Is it not 50
Sarah?'
His wife was reluctant to speak But
her true heart made answer: "No, Phil
ip, you have interpreted him too faith
fully. You may have made mistakes
| All ministers do, but I honestly be-
lieve you have preached as Chris,
would preach against the great selfish
ness and hypocrisy of this century
The same thing would have happened
to him."
They talked little longer, and ther
Philip said:
! 'Let us go down and see the Brother
Man. Somehow I feel like talking tC
him."
So they went down stairs and into
the room where the invalid was sitting
with the old man. William was able
to walk about now and had been say
ing that he wanted to hear Philip
| preach as soon as he could get to
| church.
"Well, Brother Man." said Philip
with something like his old heartiness
of manner, have you heard the news
Othello's occupations gone"
The Brother Man seemed to know
/ all about it. Whether he had heard
of it through some of the church peo
| pie or not 1r. Strong did not know
He looked at Mr.. Strong calmly. There
was a loving sympathy in his voice
but no trace of compassion or won
der. Evidently he had not been talk
ing of the subject to any one.
Il knew it would happen" he said
"You have offended the rulers"
"What would you do, Brother Man
in my place? Would you resign?
Philip thought back to the time when
the Brother Man had asked him why
he did not resign.
Don't they ask you to-"
"Yes."
"Do you think it is the wish of the
whole church,"
mo, there are some who want me to
stay"
How do you feel about it?" The
| Brother Man put the question almost
timidly. Philip replied without hesi
tation:
''There is only one thing for me to
do. 1t would be impossible for me to
remain after what has been done"
The Brother Man nodded his head as
if in approval. He did not seem dis
turbed in the least, His demeanor wa
the most perfect expression of peace
that Philip ever saw.
I'VE shall have to leave this house
Brother Man." said Sarah feeling with
Philip that ne did not grasp the mean
ing of the event.
"Yes, in the Fathers house there
are many mansions" replied the Broth
er Man. Then as Mr.. and Mrs. Strong
sat there in the gathering gloom the
old man said suddenly, LET us pray
together about it."
He kneeled down and offered thu
most remarkable prayer that they ha(
ever heard. 1t seemed to them that
however the old mans mind might b,
affected, the part of him that touched
God in the communion of audible pray