The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-04-03
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
The first Sunday was beginning to
be more or less dreaded or anticipated
by Calvary church people. They were
learning TO expect something radical.
sweeping, almost revolutionary in Phil
ip's utterances or "Christ and Modern
Society" Some agreed with him as
far as he had gone. Very many had
been hurt at his plainness of speech.
This was especially true of the prop
erty owners and the fashionable part
Of the membership. Yet there was
fascination about Philips preaching
that prevented so far any very serious
outbreak or dissension in the church.
He was recognized leader In his
presentation of truth he was large
minded. He had the faculty of hold
ing mems respect. There was no mis-
taking the situation, however. Mr..
Winter, with others, was working
against him. Philip was vaguely con-
scious of much that did not work out
into open, apparent fact. Neverthe-
less, when he came up on the first Sun
day of the next month and began to an
nounce his subject, he found an audi
ence that crowded the house to the
doors, and among them were scattered
numbers of men from the working
mems district with whom Philip had
talked while down there. 1t was, as
before, an inspiring congregation, and
Philip faced it, feeling sure in his heart
that he had a great subject to unfold
and message to deliver to the church
Of Christ such as he could not but be-
lieve Christ would most certainly pre-
sent if he We're living today in Milton.
He began by describing the exact
condition of affairs in Milton. To as
sist this description he had brought
with him into the church his map OF
the town.
Look now," he said, pointing out
the different localities, "at B street.
where we now are. Here are seven of
the largest churches of the place on
this street. The entire distance be-
tween the first of these church build
ings and the last one is little over a
mile. Three of these churches are only
two blocks apart. Then consider the
character of the residences and people
| in the vicinity of this street. 1t is
what is called desirable-that is, the
homes are the very finest, and the peo-
pie, almost without exception, are re-
fined, respectable, well educated and
Christian in training. All the wealth
| of the town centers about 3 street. All
| the society life extends out from it on
| each side. 1t is considered the most
| fashionable street for drives and prom
enades. 1t is well lighted, well paved,
| well kept. The people who come out
| Of the houses on B street are always
| well dressed. The people who go into
| these seven churches are as rule well
| dressed aud comfortable looking. Mind
| you," continued Philip, raising his
hand with a significant gesture, Il do
not want to have you think that l con-
| slider good clothes and comfortable
looks as un-Christian or anything
against the people who present such an
| appearance. Far from it. | simply
| mention this fact to make the contrast
am going to show you all the palmer.
| For let us leave B street now and GO
down into the flats by the river, where
! nearly all the mill people have their
homes. l wish you would note first
the distance from B street and the
churches to this tenement district. II
is nine blocks-that is, q little over a
mile. To the edge of the tenement
houses farthest from our own church
building it is mile and three-quarters
And within that entire district, meas
uring nearly two by three miles, there
is not a church building. There are
two feeble mission schools, which are
held in plain, unattractive halls, where
every Sunday handful of children
meet, but nothing practically is being
done by the church of Christ in this
place to give the people in that part OF
the town the privileges and power OF
the life of Christ, the life more abun
dantly.
''The houses down there are of tn,
cheapest description. The people wht
come out of them are far from wei
dressed. The streets and alleys arr
dirty and i'll smelling, and no ont
cares to promenade for pleasure VI
and down the sidewalks in that neigh
borhood. 1t is not a safe place to g
to at night. The most frequent dis
turbances come from that part of th'
town. All the hard characters find ref
uge there. And let me say that l an
not now speaking of the working peo
pie. They are almost without eXcep
ton law abiding But in every tow
like ours the floating population of vic
and crime seeks naturally that part o
town where the poorest houses are
and the most saloons, and the creates
darkness, both physical and moral.
IF there is part of this town whicl
needs lifting up and cleaning and heal
ing and inspiring by the presence o
the church of Christ, it is right ther
where there is no church. The peopl
on street and for six or eight block
J, each side know the gospel. They hav
large numbers of books and papers an
much Christian literature. They hav
been taught the Bible truths; they ar
familiar with them. OF what value
/. it, then, to continue to support on thi
short street, so near together, seve
q churches, of as many different denom
nations, which have for their member