The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-06-07

Iu6 udll -
Philip nodded. He had been by 1t In
his walks through that part Of Milton.
The spokesman for the wOrkmen ex-
pressed his thanks and arose to 60, but
Philip asked him to stay few mo-
ments. He wanted to know at first
hand what the mans representative
fellows would do II the church should
at any time decide to act after Philips
plan.
"Well, to tell the truth, Mr.. Strong,
I don't believe very many Of them
would Join any church."
'That is not the question. Would
they feel the church any more there
than where it is now?"
"Yes, honestly think they would.
They would come out to hear you"
"Well, that would be something, to
be sure" replied Philip. smiling. But
as to the wisdom of the plan-how
does it strike you on the whole?'
Il would like to see it done. l don't
believe l shall, though"
"WhyY
"Your church won't agree to It."
Maybe they will in time"
Il hope they will. And let me tell
you, Mr.. Strong, even If you succeeded
in getting your church and people to
come into the tenement district you
would find plenty of people there who
wouldn't go to hear you"
81 suppose that is so. But, oh, that
we might do something" Philip clasp
ed his hands over his knee and gazed
earnestly at the man opposite. The
man returned the gaze almost as ear
nestly. 1t was the personiiication Of
the church confronting the hboring
man. each in a certain way asking the
other, What will the church do!
And it was Il noticeable fact that the
minister's look revealed more doubt
and anxiety than the other mans look,
which contained more or less of ind!f-
ference and distrust. Philip sighed,
aud his visitor soon after took his
leave.
So it came about that Philip Strong
plunged into Il work which from the
time he stepped into the dingy little
hall and faced the crowd peculiar to il
had growing influence on all his
strange career, grew in strangencss
rapidly rs days came on.
| He was invited again and again to
address the men in that part of Milton.
/ They were almost all of them mill cm-
ployees. They had simple organization
for debate and discussion of questions
of the day. Gradually the crowds i'll
creased as Philip continued to come
and developed II series Of talks on
Christian socialism. There was stand
| ing room only. He was beginning to
know number of the men, and Il
strong affection was growing up in
their hearts for him.
That was just before the time the
| trouble at the mills broke out He had
just come back from the hall where he
/ had now been going every Thursday
evening and where he had spoken on
his favorite theme-"The Meaning and
Responsibility of Power, Both Finan-
|
subject from the Christian point Of
view entirely. He had several times
reused his rude audience to enthusiasm.
Moved by his theme and his surround
ings, he had denounced, with even more
than usual vigor. those men of ease
and wealth who did nothing with their
money to help their brothers. He had
mentioned. as he went along, what
great responsibility any great power
puts on man and had dealt in Il broad
way with the whole subject OF power
in men as n thing to be used and al
ways used for the common good.
He did not recall his exact state
ments, but felt little uneasy rs he
walked home. for fear he might possi-
bly, have influenced his particular au-
dience against the rich as class. lie
had not intended anything of the kind,
but had vague idea that possibly he
ought to have guarded some words or
sentences more carefully.
He had gone up into his study to fin
ish some work when the bell rang
sharply, and he came down to open the
door Just as Mrs. Strong came in from
the other room. where she had been
giving directions to the girl, who had
gone Up stairs through the kitchen.
The minister and his wife opened the
door together. and one of the neigh
bors rushed into the hall SO excited he
| could hardly speak.
"Oh, Mr. Strong, won't you go right
down to Mr.. Winters house? You
have more influence with those men
than any one around here"
"What menF
"The men who are going to kill him
II some one doesn't stop it.'
what" cried Philip, turning pale
not from fear, but from self reproach
to think he might have made Il mis-
take. "Who is trying to kill him-the
mill men!'
Yes! No. | do not, cannot tell
But he is in great danger and you are
the only man in this town who can
help to save him. Come"
Philip turned to his wife. Sarah
It is my duty. If anything should hap
Il ...