The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-03-16
"How do you like the church build

II is an easy duulence room Tor my
voice. l don't like the arrangement of
the choir over the front door. l think
the choir ought to be down on the plat
form in front of the people, by the side
of the minister"
''That's one of your hobbies, Philip.
But the singing was good, didn't you
think SOP
''Yes, the choir is a good one. The
congregation didn't seem to sing much.
and believe in congregational singing,
even when there is a choir. But we
can bring that about in time, l Think
Now, Philip" said his wife, in some
alarm, "you are not going to meddIe
with the singing, are you? 1t will get
you into trouble There is a musical
committee in the church, and such COM
mittees are very sensitive about any
interference"
"Well,' said Philip, rousing up a lit
tie, the singing is a very important
part of the service. And it seems 10
me l ought to have something impor
tant to say about it. But you need not
fear, Sarah. I'm not going to try to
change everything all at once.'
His wife looked at him little anx-
iously She had perfect faith in Phil
ip's honesty of purpose, but she some
times had a fear of his impetuous de-
sire to reform the world. After little
pause she spoke again, changing the
subject.
"What did you think of the congrega-
ton, Philip?'
81 enjoyed it. l thought it was very
attentive. There was a larger number
out this evening than had expected"
Did you like the looks of the peo-
ple?'
''They We're all very nicely dressed"
"Now, Philip, you know that isn't
what l mean. Did you like the peo
pies faces?
~You know like all sorts and condi
tions of men,"
Eyes, but there are audiences and au-
diences. Do you think you will enjoy
preaching to this one in Calvary
church?''
Il think l shall,' replied Philip, but
| he said it in a tone that might have
| meant a great deal more. Again there
was silence and again the minister's
wife was the first to break it.
''There was a place in your sermon
| tonight, Philip, where you appeared
! the least bit embarrassed, as you seem
| sometimes at home when; you have
| some writing or some newspaper ar
| ticle on your mind and some one sud
| denly interrupts you with a question a
| good way from your thoughts. What
was the matter? Did you forget a
| point?"
mo, FL tell you. From where
stand on the pulpit platform can see
| through one of the windows over the
front door. There is large electric
| lamp burning outside, and the light fell
| directly on the sidewalk across the
| street. From time to time groups of
| people went through that band of
| light. OF course 1 could not see their
| faces very well, but l soon found out
l that they were mostly the young men
| and women operatives of the mills.
They were out strolling through the
street, which, 1 am told, is favorite
promenade with them. l should think
as many as 200 passed by the church
while 1 was preaching. Well, after
| awhile l began to ask myself whether
| there was any possible way of getting
those young people to come into the
church instead of strolling past? And
then | looked at the people in front of
me and saw how different they were
from those outside and wondered if il
wouldn't be better to close up the
church and go and preach on the street
where the people are. And so, carry
ing on all that questioning with my
self, while tried to preach, causing a
little embarrassment as you kindly
call it, in the sermon"
: Il should think so. But how do you
know. Philip, that those people outside
were in any need of your preachingY
Philip appeared surprised at the
question. He looked at his wife, and
her face was serious.
"Why, doesn't everybody need
need of my preaching perhaps, but
they ought to have some preaching
And 1 cannot help thinking of what is
the duty of the church in this place tC
the great crowd outside. Something
ought to be done'
Phillip, l am sure your work here
will be blessed. Don't you think sop
81 know it will,' replied Philip, will
the assurance of very positive bu
spiritually minded man. He never
thought his Master was honored by
asking him for small things or doubt
ing the power of Christianity to d(
great things.
And always when he said "I' ht
: simply meant, not Philip Strong, bu
l Christ in Philip Strong. To deny tn,
. power and worth of that incarnation
D was, to his mind, not humility, bu
treason
: The Sunday following Philip mad,
| this announcement to the people,:
beginning with next Sunday morn
5 ing 1 shall pive the FIRST of serias O
monthly talks on Christ and ModerI
Society 1t will be my object in thes
talks to suppose Christ himself as tn
one speaking 10 modern society on it
! sins, its needs, its opportunities, it
t responsibilities, its everyday life.
: shall try to be entirely loving and jus
: and courageous in giving what l be
l lieve Christ himself would give you
} he were the pastor of Calvary churcl
: IN Milton today. So, during the talks,
wish you would with me, try to see
| | you think Christ would actually sa
g what | shall say in his place. If Chris
e were in Milton today, [ believe h
I would speak to us about good man
: things in Milton, and he would spea
/ very plainly, and in many cases
: might seem to be severe. But it woul