Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-01-24
means to walk in his steps.

means to walk in his steps s=5*'3
But the saloon It stood there, and
all ths others lined the street like So
many traps set for Burns How long
would the man be able to resist the
smell of the dalnnable stuff3 The bishop
was out on the porch The air of the
whole city seemed to be impregnated
with the odor of beer How long. O
God how long3' the bishop prayed
DR.. Bruce came out. and the two
friends talked over Burns and his temp
tatlon
did you ever make any inquiries
about the ownership of this property
adjoining us7' the bishop asked.
mo; Haven't taken time for it.
will now if you think it.would be worth
while. But what can we do. Edwar''
against the saloon in this great city, -
is as firmly established as the churches
or politics What power can ever re
move it?''
God will do it in time, as he re
moved slavery" replied the bishop
gravely. meanwhile think we have
a right to know who controls this saloon
so near the settlement
"I'll find out said Dr. Bruce
Two days later he walked into the
business Office of one of the members of
Nazareth Avenue church and asked to
see him few moments. He was cor
daily received by his old parishioner
who welcomed him into his room and
urged him to take all the time he
wanted
II called to see you about that prop.
erty next to the settlement. where the
bishop and myself now are, you know
l am going to sneak plainly. because
life is too short and too serious for US
both to have any foolish hesitation
about this matter Clayton, do you
think it is right to rent that property
for saloon7''
DR.. Bruce's question was as direct
and uncompromising as he had meant
it to be. The effect of it on his old pa
rishioner was instantaneous.
The hot blood mounted to the face of
the man who sat there. a picture of
business activity in d great city Then
he grew pale. dropped his head on his
hands. and when he raised it again DR.
Bruce was amazed to see a tear roll
over his parishioner's face
doctor. did you know that l took
the pledge that morning with the 9th
ers3''
eyes. l remember
But you never knew how l have
been tormented over my failure to keep
it in this instance That saloon prop
erty has been the temptation of the
devil to me 1t is the best paying in
vestment at present that have and
yet it was only minute before you
came in here that was in an agony of
re1norse to think how was letting a
little earthly gain tempt me into denial
Of the very Christ had promised to
follow know we'll enough that he
would never rent property for such a
purpose There is no need, dear doctor.
for you to say a word more - Clayton
held out his hand. and Dr. Bruce grasped
~ AsAAN HAASOA ~ AdAu A1UCA d ACl10 uc
went away. but it was long time aft.
erward that he learned all the truth
about the struggle that Clayton had
known 1t was only a part Of the his.
tory that belonged to Nazareth Avenue
church since that memorable morning
when the Holy Spirit sanctioned the
Christlike pledge Not even the bishop
and DR. Bruce. moving as they now did
in the very presence itself of divine i'm.
pulses knew yet that over the whole
sinful city the Spirit was brooding with
mighty eagerness. waiting for the dis
c'ples to arise to the call of sacrifice and
s. ffering, touching hearts long dull and
cold. making business men and money
makers uneasy in their absorption by
the one great struggle for more wealth
and stirring through the church as
never in all the city history the church
had been moved The bishop and DR..
Bruce had already seen some wonderful
things in their brief life at the settle
nent They were to see far greater
soon, more astonishing revelations of
the Divine power than they had sup
posed possible in this age of the world.
Within month the saloon next the
settlement was closed. The saloon keep
er's lease had expired, and Clayton not
only closed the property to the whisky
men. but offered the use of the building
to the bishop and DR.. Bruce for the set.
tlement work. which had now grown so
large that the building was not suffi.
Gent for the different industries that
were planned. One of the most impor-
tant of these was the pure food depart
ment suggested by Felicia. It was not
a month after Clayton turned the saloon
property over to the settlement that
Felicia found herself installed in the
very room where souls had been lost az
head Of a department not only Of cook
ing. but of course Of housekeeping for
girls who wished to go out to service
She was now a resident of the settle
ment and found a home with Mrs
Bruce and the other young women from
the city who We're residents Martha.
the violinist, remained at the place
where the bishop had first discovered
the two girls and came over to the SET
Element certain evenings to give lessons
in music
Felicia, tell US your plan in full
now. said the bishop one evening
when. in rare interval of rest from
the great pressure Of work, he, with Dr.
Bruce and Felicia, had come in from
the other building
well. | have long thought Of the
hired girl problem, said Felicia, with
an air Of wisdom that made Mrs. Bruce
smile as she looked at the enthusiastic,