Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-03

IAhF NNHNN At ANNNHNhN AAl'N 0hAAf
"All those opposed 20 the admission OF
the applicant signify It by the same
sign"
Again there was the same significant.
reluctant pause. then half a dozen
hands went up In front Of the church.
Instantly from almost every part OF
the house hands went up IN numbers
that almost doubled those who had
voted IN favor Of admission. From the
gallery on the sides, where several OF
Philips workmen friends sat a hiss
arose. II was slight. but heard By the
entire congregation. Philip glanced up
there. and Il Instantly ceased.
Without another wore he stepped
down from the platform and began 10
read the list Of those who had been re-
ceived into church membership. lie
had almost reached the end Of 1t when
person whose name was called last
rose from HIS seat near the front,
where all the newly received members
were In the habit Of sitting together,
and, turning partly around 80 as TO
face the congregation and still address
Philip, he said;
MIR. Strong. do not feel as II, after
what has taken place here this morn
ing, / could unite with this church.
This man who has been excluded from
church membership Is the son Of Wo-
man born into slavery on the estate OF
one Of my relatives That slave wo-
man once nursed her master through
a terrible Illness and saved his lie.
This man, her SON. was then a little
child But In the strange changes that
have gone on since the war the son OF
the old master has been reduced 10
poverty and obliged 10 work for Nv
ing. lie is now In this town He Is
this very day lying upon sick bed In
the tenement district And this black
man has for several weeks out Of his
small earnings helped the son Of his
mothers master and cared for him
through his illness with all the deyo-
ton Of a friend.
Il have only lately learned these
facts. But, knowing them as ] do and
believing that he Is as worthy 20 SIT
about this table as any Christian here
cannot reconcile the rejection with
my own purpose to unite here.
therefore desire 10 withdraw my APP
plication for membership here. Mr.
Strong. desire 10 be baptized and par
take Of the communion as a disciple OF
Christ simply. not as a member OF Cal
vary church. Can do so2'
Philip replied In a choking voice
you can" The man sat down. II
was not the place for any demonstra-
ton. but again from the gallery came
a slight but distinct note OF applause,
As before, Il instantly subsidized as
PHILIP looked up. For a moment ev-
cry one held his breath and waited
for the minister's action. Philips face
was pale and stern. What his sensi-
tive nature suffered In that moment
no one ever knew. not even his wife,
who almost started from her seat,
fearing that he was about 10 faint.
For a moment there was a hesitation
about Philips manner so unusual with
him that some thought he was going to
leave the church, But he quickly called
on his will 20 assert its power and,
taking up the regular communion sery-
ice. he calmly took charge Of II as II
nothing out OF the way had occurred
RE aid not even allude 10 the morn
lngs incident IN his prayers. Whatever
else the people might think OF Philip
they certainly could find no fault with
his self possession. His conduct Of the
service on that memorable Sunday was
admirable.
When It was over, he was surround
ed by different ones who had taken
part either for or against the sexton.
There was much said about the matter.
! But all the arguments and excuses and
comments on the affair could not re-
move the heartache from Philip. He
could not reconcile the action Of the
church with the snirlt Of the church's
' Master. Jesus, and when he finally
| reached home and calmly reviewed the
| events OF the morning he was more
/ and more grieved for the church and
| for his Master II seemed 70 him that
a great mistake had been made and
| thar Calvary church had dlsgraced the
name az Christianity.
As he had been IN the habit Of doing
| since he moved into the nelghborhood
/ OF the tenemcnts, Philip went out In
/ the afternoon to visit the sick and the
sorrowful The shutting down az the
| mills had resulted In an immense
amount az suffering and trouble As
! spring came on some few OF the mills
| had opened, and men had found work
! In them az a reduction OF wages, The
entire history OF the enforced idleness
| Of thousands Of men In Milton during
! that eventful winter would make
! large volume ~ thrilling narrative.
! Philips story but touches on this 9TH
err. Ila had grown rapidly familiar
/ with the different phases OF lie which
| loafed and idled and drank itself away
/ during that period NJ inacti0n. Hun
dreds Of men had drlfted away 10 other
| places In search Of work Almost as
many more had taken to the road 90
/ swell the ever increasing number 81
| professional tramps and in time to de-
velop into petty thieves and criminals.
/ But those who remained had desper-
! ate struggle with poverty. Phillp grew
sick nt heart as he went amqng the
| people and saw the c0mplettabc lpless-
ness the utter cstranscment sympa-
! thy and community Of feeling between
! the church people and these represent
/ atives of the physical labor OF the
/ world Eycry time he went out to do
his ylglUng this feeling deepened In
him. This Sunday afternoon In partic-
ular Il seemed 20 him as II the depres-
! sion and announcement OF the tene-
ment district weighed on him like
great burden. bearing him down to the
earth with sorrow and heartache.
He had been In the habit OF going
| out 10 communion Sunday with the
/ emblems OF Christ TO observe the rite
| by The hedsdes OF the aged or III or
/ those who could not get out 20 church.
/ lie carried with him this time basket
/ containing a part OF the communion
service. After going TO the homes OF
one or two invalid church members he
thought Of the person who had been
mentioned by the man In the morning
as living In the tenement district and
In a critical condition. He had secured
his address. and after a little inquiry
he soon found himself In part or the
tenements near TO him.
lie climbed UP three flights OF stairs
and knocked at the door. II was open
ed by the sexton. He greeted Philip
with glad surprise.
The minister smiled sadly,
$50, my brother. II is true you are
serving your Master here? My heart
is grieved al the action Of the church
this morning"
Don't say nothing, Mr.. Strong.
You did all you could, but you are Just
IN time TO see him" The sexton point
ed into a small back room. "He Is go-
| ing fast | didn't suppose he was so
near ] would have asked you 10 come.
| but | didn't think he was failing sc"
| Philip followed the sexton into the
room. The son OF the old slave master
was sinking rapidly He was conscious,