The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-03-08
copwSoha lsss b INC AdOaHes P.loa1sAsa0 o.
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER Kill
The door of the classroom was closed,
and Philip and the trustees were to-
gether. There was moment of embar-
RAISING silence. and then the spokes-
man for the board a nervous little
man. said
Mr. Strong, we hardly know just
what to say to this proposition OF
yours this morning about going out OF
the parsonage and turning it into an
orphan asylum. But it Is certainly a
very remarkable proposition. ana we
felt as if we ought to meet you at once
and talk it over
It's simply impossible" spoke up
one OF the trustees. .'In the first place.
it is impracticable as business propo-
Eition."
do you chink SOP asked Philip
quietly
1T is out Of the question: said the
first speaker excitediy. 1.-The church
win never listen to it in the world For
my part, If Brother Strong wishes
to-
At that moment the sexton knocked
at the door and said man was outside
very anxious to see the minister and
have him come down to his house.
There had been an accident or a light
or something Some one was dying
and wanted Mr.. Strong at once. So
Philip hastily excused himself and
went out leaving the trustees together.
The door was hardly shut again
when the speaker who had been inter
rupted jumped to his feet and ex-
claimed:
AS ! was saying. for my part If
Brother Strong wishes to indulge in
this eccentric action he will not have
the sanction of my vote In the matter.
1t certainly is an entirely unheard of
and uncalled for proposition"
Mr.. Strong has no doubt generous
motive in this proposed action" said
third member of the board, tbut the
church certainly will not approve any
such step as the giving up of the par
sonage. He exaggerates the need of
such a sacrifice. think we ought to
reason him out of the idea"
I'VE called Mr. Strong to the pastor
ate Of Calvary church." said another,
"and it seems to me he came under the
conditions granted in our call. For
the church TO allow such an absurd
thing as the giving up of the parsonage
10 this proposed outside work would be
very unwise move"
''Yes, and more than that" said the
first speaker, II want to say very
frankly that | am growing tired of the
way things have gone since Mr.. Strong
came to us. What business has Cal
vary church with all these outside
matters, these labor troubles and un-
employed men and all the other mat
tiers that have been made the subject
Of preaching lately? l want minister
who looks after his own parish. Mr..
Strong does not call on his own people.
He has not been inside my house but
once since he came TO Milton. Breth-
rem, there is a growing feeling of dis
content over this matter"
There was short pause, and then
one of the members said:
Surely ii MIR. Strong feels dissatis-
fed with his surroundings in the par
sonage or feels as if his work lay in
another direction be is at liberty ton
choose another parish. But he is the
finest pulpit minister we ever Lad, and
no one doubts his entire sincerity. He
is a remarkable man in many re-
spects."
Yes. but sincerity may be very
awkward thing carried too far. And
in this matter of the parsonage | don't
see how the trustees can allow it. Why,
what would the other churches think
of it? Calvary church cannot allow
OF the kind for the sake of its
reputation. But | would like to hear
MIR. Winters opinion. He has not spo-
ken YETI
The rest turned to the mill owner,
who, as chairman of the board, usual
ly had much TO say and was regarded
as a shrewd and careful business adj
wiser. In the excitement of the occa
sion and discussion the usual formali
ties of regular board meeting had
been ignored.
Mr. Winter was evidently embarrass-
ed. He had listened to the discussion
of the minister with his head bent
down and his thoughts In a whirl of
emotion both for and against the pas
tor. His naturally inclined business
habits contended against the PROPOSE
ton to give up the parsonage. His
feelings Of gratitude TO the minister for
his personal help the night Of the at
tack by the mob rose up to defend him.
There was with it all an undercurrent
OF self administered rebuke that the
pastor had set the whole church an ex-
ample of usefulness. He wondered
how many of the members would vol
unfairly give up half their incomes
for the good OF humanity. He wonder
ed in a confused way how much he
would give up himself. Philips SER
mon had made real Impression on
him.
There is one point we have not dis
cussed yet" he said at last, "and that
is Mr.. Strong's offer of half his sal
arv to carry on the work of a chill