Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-06-14
The Crucifixion of
Philip Strong.
CHAPTER XVII.
By REV. CHARLES M. SHELDON.
Copyright 1855, by The Advance Pub shiHr Col


has long been contemplating the addition to ID
pTofess0rship Of q chair Of sociology. The lack
{ funds and tie absolute necessity of sufficient Fl
dowment fer such chair have made it imposs
bic hitherto for the trustees 20 make any defnit
move in this direction. A recent legacy, Of whic
you have doubtess heard has made the foundin
Of this new proiessorship possible. And now th
trustees by unanimous vote have united upon yo
as the man best fitted 20 ON this chair Of soci0o
Nv. We have heard Of your work in Milton an
know Of II personally. We are assured you ar
the man fer this place. We therefore tender Vol
most heartily the position Of professor Of socolo
- at Fairiew seminary al a salary Of $500
! year and a preliminary years absence, eithe
abroad in this country, before you begin actua
/ labors with the seminary.
With this formal call on the part Of the trusteei
goes the most earnest desire on the part Of an the
professors Of the seminary who remember you in
your marked undergraduate success IS student
here You viii meet with the most loving wei
come. and the seminary will be greatly strength
ened by your presence in this new department.
We are, in behalf Of the seminary, very cordially
yours, THE TRUSTEES.
Here followed their names. familiar
to both Philip and his wife.
There was a moment Of astonished
/ silence. and then Sarah said:
We'll. Philip, that's what l call the
! Gnger Of Providence"'
DO you call it the finger Of Provi-
dence because il points the way you
want TO 60" asked Philip, with a
smile. But his face instantly grew So
Der. lie was evidently very much eX-
cited by the call 70 Fairview.. 1t had
come mt a time when he was i'm a CON
dition to be very much moved 10y ii.
Yes, Philip" replied his wife as she
smoothed back his hair from his fore
head. cit is very plain To me that you
have done all that am one can do here
in Milton, and this call comes just in
time. You are worn out. The church
is opposed TO your methods. You need
a rest and n change, and. besides,
this is the very work that you have al
ways had a liking for"
Philip said nothing for a moment.
His mind was in a whirl Of emotion. |
Finally he said: Yes: | would enjoy |
such a professorship. 1t is a very |
tempting call. l feel drawn toward it. |
And yet"-he hesitated--"I don't know
that | ought to leave Milton just now"
Mrs Strong was provoked. Philip
Strong, you have lived this kind Of life
long enough. All your efforts in Cal
vary church are wasted. What good
have all your sermons done? II is all
l vain sacrifice, and the end will be de-
'eat and misery for you. Add TO all
his the fact that this new work will
all for the best and most Christian la
DOR and that some good Christian man
will take it If you don't-and | don't
zee, Philip, how you can possibly think
u such thing as refusing this oppor-
unity"
1T certainly is a splendid opportuni-
y, murmured Philip Il wonder why |
hey happened to pitch on me for the
llaceg'
That's easy enough. Every one
nows that You could fiji that chair
letter than almost any other man in
he country"
DO You mean by every one little
woman of the name Of SarahY' asked
'hilip. with brief return Of his teas
NJ habit
NO, sir. / mean all the professors
nd people in Fairview and all the
linking people of Milton and every
ne who knows yOu, Philip. Every
ne knows that whatever else YOU lack
isn't brains"
I'D like 10 borrow n few lust now.
hough. for | seem 10 have lost most OF
nine. Lend me yours, won't you.
'arah, until ! settle this question Of
he calIff
NO, sir. If You can't settle a plain +,
uestion like this with an your brains,
on couldn't do any better with the adj
ition Of the little | have"
Then you really think, DO you. /,
arah. that l ought 10 accept this as
he leading Of the spirit Of God and !
ollow without hcsitationy
Mrs. Strong replied with almost tear
nj earnestneSs:
Philip, il seems to me like the lead
ne Of his hand Surely You have q
hown your willingness and your cour-
"a+N aNHl NaNi l4tt IN your WORK [
.ere. But your methods are distaste-
~, and your preaching has SO far
oused only antagonism. Oh. | dread ,
he thought Of this life for you another
lay. Ii looks TO me like a suicidal pol 1
ey, with nothing 70 show for II when !
.ou have gone through with IT,"
Philip spread the letter out on the
ouch, and his face grew more and $
more thoughtful as he gazed into the
ace Of his wife, and his mind went I
yer the ground Of his church expert :
nee. If only-he was perhaps think {
lg-if only the good God had not given
i'm So sensitive and fuc tempered :
pirit Of consrientiousuess He almost I
nvied men of coarse, blunt feelings. :
I common ideals Of duty and service. !
His wife watched him auxlously. 4
he knew it was a crisis with him.
1t last De said. ,
We'll, Sarah, ] don't know hut )
ou're right The spirit is willing. I
ut the flesh is weak. The professor I
hip would boz free from the iucessant /
7orry and anxiety Of a parish. aud