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


moved to Milton, as the church wished
him to occupy the pulpit at once. The
parsonage was a well planned house
next the church, and his wife soon
made everything look very homelike
The first Sunday evening after Philip
preached in Milton, for the first time
he chatted with his wife over the
events Of the day as they sat before a
cheerful open fire In the large CRATE
1t was late in the fall and the nights
were sharp and frosty.
Are you tired tonight, PhilipT ask
ed his wife.
Yes, the day has been rather try
ing. Did you think l was nervous? :?
Did / preach well% Philip was not
vain in the least. He simply put the
question to satisfy his own eXacting
demand on himself In preaching. And
there was not person in the world TO
whom he would have put such a ques-
ton except his wife.
''No, l thought you did splendidly. !
felt proud of you. You made some
queer gestures, and once you put one
of your hands in your pocket. But your
sermons were both strong and effect
i've. ] am sure the people were i'm.
pressed. 1t was very still at both serv-
ices"
Philip was silent moment And his
wife went on:
81 am sure we shall like it here,
Philip What do you thinkT"
81 cannot tell yet There is very
much to do"
"How do you like the church build
ingY
"It is an easy audience room for my
voice. don't like the arrangement of
the choir over the front door | think
the choir ought to be down on the plat
form in front of the people, by the side
of the minister"
That's one Of your hobbies, Philip.
But the singing was good. didn't you
think sop
Eyes, the choir is a good one. The
congregation didn't seem to sing much.
and believe in congregational singing,
even when there Is choir. But we
can bring that about In time. think"
Now, Philip" said his wife. in some
alarm, "you are not going to NEEDLE
with the singing. are you? 1t will get
you into trouble. There Is musical
committee In the church. and such COM
mittees are very sensitive about any
Interference"
"Well," said Philip, rousing up a lit
tie, ''the singing is very important
part of the service. And 1t seems 10
me I ought to have something impor-
tant to say about 1t. But you need not
fear, Sarah. I'm not going to try to
change everything all at once"
His wife looked at him little anx-
iously. She had perfect faith in Phil
ips honesty of purpose, but she some
times had fear of his impetuous de-
sire to reform the world. After a little
pause she spoke again, changing the
subject.
what did you think Of the congrega-
ton, Philips"
"I enjoyed II. thought it was very
attentive. There was a larger number
out this evening than I had expected"
did you like the looks of the peo-
pleT
"They were all very nicely dressed"
Now, Philip, you know that isn't
what l mean. Did you like the peo.
pies faces"
"You know l Hike ali sorts and condi-
tions Of men,"
"Yes, but there are audiences and au-
diences. Do you think you will enjoy
preaching to this one In Calvary
churchT'
~ think I shall" replied Philip. but
he said 1t In q tone that might have
meant a great deal more. Again there
was silence and again the minister's s
wife was the first to break 1t.
''There was place In your sermon
tonight, Philip, where you appeared
the least bit embarrassed, as you seem
sometimes at home when you have
some writing or some newspaper ar
ticle on your mind and some one sud-
denly interrupts you with question a
good way from your thoughts. What
was the matter? Did you forget a
pOint2"