Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-01-04

"
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 l could not see their
faces very well, but ! soon found out
that they were mostly the young men
and women operatives Of the mills.
They were out strolling through the
street, which, am told, is a favorite
promenade with them. l should think
as many as 200 passed by the church
while | was preaching Well, after
awhile 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 II 1t
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
little embarrassment as you kindly
call 1t, in the sermon"
II should think SO! But how do you
know, Philip, that those people outside
were In any need Of your preachingw
Philip appeared surprised at the
question. He looked at his wife, and
her face was serious.
"Why. doesn't everybody need
preaching? They may not stand In
need Of my preaching perhaps, but
they ought to have some preaching.
And cannot help thinking of what is
the duty Of the church in this place to
the great crowd outside. Something
ought to be done"
philip. | am sure your work here
will he blessed. Don't you think so?"
81 know it WILL" replied Philip. with
the assurance of very positive but
spiritually minded man. He never
thought his Master was honored by
asking him for small things or doubt
ing the power Of Christianity to do
great things.
And always when he said ''I'' he
simply meant, not Philip Strong. but
Christ in Philip Strong. To deny the
power and worth of that incarnation
was, TO his mind. not humility, but
treason.
The Sunday following Philip made
this announcement to the people:
Beginning with next Sunday morn
ing. ] shall give the first of series of
monthly talks on Christ and Modern
Society 1t viii be my object in these
talks to suppose Christ himself as the
one speaking to modern society on its
sins, its needs, its opportunities, its
responsibilities, its everyday life. |
shall try to be entirely loving and just
and courageous in giving what l be-
lieve Christ himself would give you X
he were the pastor OF Calvary church
In Milton today. So, during the talks.
wish you would, with me, try to see IL
you think Christ would actually say
what l shall say In his place, LIZ Christ
were In Milton today, | believe he
would speak to US about good many
things In Milton, and he would speak
very plainly, and In many cases he
might seem to be severe. But 1t would
be for our good. OF course am but
human in my weakness. | shall make
mistakes. shall probably say things
Christ would not say. But always go
ing to the source of all true help, the
spirit of truth, l shall. as best man
may, speak as l truly believe Christ
would If he were your pastor These
talks will be given on the first Sunday
Of every month. | cannot announce
the subjects, for they will be chosen
as the opportunities arise"
During the week Philip spent several
hours of each day in learning the facts
concerning the town. One Of the FIRST
things he did was to buy an accurate
map Of the place. He hung II up on
the wall of his study and In after days
found occasion to make good use of 1t.
He spent afternoons walking over the
town. He noted with special interest
and earnestness the great brick mills
by the river, five enormous structures
with immense chimneys. out Of which
poured great volumes of smoke. Some
thing about the mills fascinated him.
They seemed like monsters Of some
sort. grim, unfeeling, but terrible. As
one walked by them he seemed to feel
the throbbing of the hearts of five crea-
lures. The unpainted tenements, ugly
In their unfailing similarity, affected
Philip with sense Of almost anger.
He had a keen and truthful taste In
matters Of architecture, and those
boxes Of houses offended every artistic
and homelike feeling In him. Coming
home one day past the tenements, he
found himself In an unknown street.
and for the curiosity of 1t he undertook
to count the saloons on the street In
one block. There were over IL. There
was policeman on the corner as Phil
Up reached the crossing. and he in
quired Of the officer II he could tell him
who owned the property In the block
containing the saloons.
II believe most Of the houses belong
to Mr.. Winter, sir"
"Mr. William WinterT asked Philip
Eyes, think that's the name. He is
the largest owner In the Ocean mill
yonder."
philin tha nk ed tho man a nj went IN