Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-01-20
THE CRUC|F|X|0N
OF PHILIP STRONG.
By REV. CHARLES M. SHELDON,
Author of Do7 "Maleom Kirk Rober
Hardy's Days." Etc.

fellows, always Juggling in blood and
destruction and prophesying ruin 70
the nation and the world II 1t doesn't
gee and haw the way like 1t to. But
tell you, Sarah, it takes no prophet
to see that q man who is hungry and
out of work Is a dangerous man to
have around. And 1t takes no extraor.
binary sized heart to swell little with
righteous wrath when in such times as
these people 60 right on with their USE
less luxuries Of living and spend as
much on a single evenings entertain
ment as would provide comfortable
living for a whole month to some de-
serving family"
How do you know they DOR
"Well. III tell you. I've figured II
out. | will leave it to any one Of good
Judgment that any one Of these project.
ed parties mentioned here In the evening
paper"-Philip smoothed the paper on
the head Of tie couch-"any one OF
them will cost in the neighborhood OF
500 to $3.50. Look here! Here's the
Goldens' party-members Of Calvary
church. They will spend at least $50
to $50 in flowers. and refreshments
will cost $50 more, and music another
S25 and incidentals SOS extra. and SO
on. Is that right, Sarah. these times,
and as people ought to live now"
"But some one gets the benefit Of all
this money spent. Surely that is a
help to some Of the working people"
eyes, but how many people are help.
ed by such expenditures? Only Sc.
lect few. and they are the very ones
who are least In need Of 1t. l say
that Christian people and members Of
churches have no right to indulge their
selfish pleasures to this extent in these
ways. I know that Christ would not
approve Of It,"
"You think he would not. Philip?'
"No, l know he would not. There Is
not q particle of doubt In my mind
about it. What right has disciple Of
Jesus Christ to spend for the gratiflca-
ton Of his physical aesthetic pleasures
money which ought to be feeding the
hungry bodies Of men or providing
some useful necessary labor for their
activity? mean, Of course, the graft
fication Of those senses which man
can live without. In this age Of the
world society ought to dispense with
some Of it's accustomed pleasures and
deny itself for the sake Of the great
suffering, needy world. Instead Of
that. the members Of the very church
Of Christ on earth spend more In sin.
gle evenings entertainment for people
who don't need it than they give to the
salvation of men in q whole year. l
protest out Of the soul that God gave
me against such wicked selfishness.
And | will protest If society spurn
me from it as q bigot, q Puritan and q
boor. For society in Christian Ameri-
ca is not Christian in this matter-no.
not after the Christianity Of Christ"
What can you do about it, Philip"
His wife asked the question sadly.
She had grown old fast since coming
to Milton. and a presentiment Of evil
would. in spite Of her naturally CHEEKY
disposition. cling to her whenever she
considered Philip and his work.
81 can preach on it, and | will"
BE wise. Philip. You tread on diff
ticult ground when you enter society's
realm"
Well dear. will be as wise as a
serpent and harmless as a dove. al
though | must confess ! never knew