Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-03-08

thN last name, II was spoken in such a
low voice.
Mrs. Strong at once set food upon
the table. and then she and Philip with
true dclicacy busted themselves in an
other room so as not 10 watch the
hungry man while he ate when he
had satisfied his hunger. Philip show
cd him the little room whore the
Brother Man" had staid one night
"You may make it your own u.s. long
as YOU WILL" Philip said. You mry
look upon IT as simply n part Of what
has been given MS TO bc used for the
Fathers children"
The man seemed dazcd 10y the rc-
suit Of his encounter with the prcach-
er He murmurcd something about
thanks. lie was evidently very much
worn, and the excitement of the even
ing had given place TO an appearance
of detection that alarmed Philip. After
few words he went out and left ne
man. who said that he felt very drow-
sy.
II believe he is going TO have TO-
yer or something" Mr.. Strong said 10
his wife as he joined her in the other
room He related his meeting with the
man. making very light Of tho attack
and indeed excusing it on the ground
of his desperate condition.
His fear was realized. The noyt
morning he found his ledger in the
clutch of fever. Before night he was
delirious. The doctor came and pro-
nounccd him dangerously III. And
Philip. with the burden OF his work
weighing heavier on him every mo-
ment. took up this additional lond and
prayed his Lord to give him strength
to carry it and save another soul.
II was at the time of this event in
MI Strong's life that another occur
red which had it's special bearing upon
the crisis of all his life
The church was dear to his thought.
loved by him with n love that only
very few Of the members understood.
In spite of his apparent failure to rouse
them to a conception Of their duty as ho
saw It. be was confident that the spirit
of God would accomplish the miracle
which he could not do. Then there
were those in Calvary church who
sympathized heartily with him and
were ready 10 follow his leadership.
So he began TO plan for a series of
Sunday night services different from
anything Milton had ever known His
life in the tenement district and his
growing knowledge of the labor world
hun L.; e fl. d.
the church was missing its opportuni-
y in not graphing with the problem
as it existed in Milton. 1t seemed to
him that the first step to a successful
solution Of that problem was for the
church and tho nottingham 10 rot
for n better understanding He a,-
CordinglY planned for a series Of sun
day night services in which bis one
great purpose was to unite the church
and the labor unions in scheme of
mutual helpfulneSS His plan was
very simple. He invited into th, meet
ing one or two thoughtful leaders Of
the mill men and asked them to state
in the planest terms the exact coudi-
ton Of affairs in the labor world from
their standpoint. Then he FOR the
church. took up their statements. their
complaints or the reasons for their
differences with capital ana answered
them from the Christian standpoint
what would Christ advise under tho
circumstances He had different sub
icCts presented on different evenings
one night it was reasons why the mill
men were not in the church. Another
night il was the demand Of men for
better houses and how to get them.
Another night il was the subject Of
strikes and the attitude of christ on
wages and the relative value Of the
wage earuerS' product and the capt.
taliStS' intelligence. vt each meeting
ne allowed one or two of The invited
leaders to take the platform and say
very plainly what To his mind was the
cause and what the remedy for the
poverty and crime and suffering of
the world. Then he closed the even
ing'S discussion by a calm. clear state
mcnt of what was to him the direct
application of Jesus teaching to the
point at issue.