Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-07-12


soft enjoyment Of pretty things, its
careless Indifference to humanity's
pain in the lower town. The group OF
newcomers went in. a strain of music
and the echo Of a dancing laugh float
ed out into the street, and then the
door closed.
"NIr. Strong, If you preach TO the
people to leave such pleasure as that
we have just glanced at to view or
suffer such things as are found In the
tenements, you must expect opposition.
l doubt If they will understand your
meaning. l know they will not do any
such thing. 1t is asking too much"
"And yet the Lord Jesus Christ, al
though he was rich, for our sakes be-
came poor, that we, through his pow
erty. might be rich Mr.. Winter, what
| this town needs is that kind Of Chris
tianity, the kind that will give up the
physical pleasures of life to show the
love of Christ TO perishing men. | be-
lieye 1t is just as true now as when
Christ lived, that unless they are will
ing to renounce all that they have they
cannot be his disciples"
"Do you mean literally. Mr. Strong?"
asked the rich man after a little.
"Yes, literally, sOmetiSes. / be-
lieve the awful condition of things and
souls we have witnessed tonight will
not be any better until many, many Of
the processing Christians in this town
and I'm Calvary church are willing to
| leave, actually to leave their beautiful
homes and spend the money they now
/ spend in luxuries for the good Of the
weak and poor and sinful"
"Do you think Christ would preach
| that If he were in MiltonE'
81 do. It has been burned into me
/ that he would. | believe he would say
| 10 the members of Calvary church: If
any man love houses and money and
society and power and position more
! than me- he cannot be my disciple, If
any man renounceth not all that he
hath he cannot be my disciple And
then he would test the entire church
| by its willingness TO ren0unee all these
physical things. And if he found the
members willing, If he found that they
loved him more than the money or the
power. he might not demand a literal
| giving up. But he would say to them,
take my money and my power. for it
is all mine, and use them for the build
| ing up of my kingdom He would not
| then perhaps command them to leave
| literally their beautiful surroundings.
| But, then, in some cases | believe he
would. oh, yes! Sacrifice, sacrifice!
What does the church In America in
this age of the world know about it,
How much do church members give of
themselves nowadays TO the Masterf
That is what we need-self, the souls
of men and women, the living sacri-
fees for these lost children down yon-
der! 0 God, to think of what Christ
gave up! And then to think of how
little his church is doing to obey his
last command TO go and disciple the
nations"
Philip went back through the ay-
enue on which the churche' stood.
When he reached Calvary church, he
went up on the steps, and, obeying an
| instant Impulse ne huttith hpNh Vh
the upper step and prayed. Great
sobs shook him. They were sobs with
out tears-sobs that were articulate
here and there with groans Of anguish
and desire. He prayed for his loved
church, for the wretched beings in the
hell Of torment, without God and with
out hope in the world, for the spirit Of
| Christ to come again into the heart OF
the church and teach 1t the meaning
| and extent Of sacrifice.
When the eventful Sunday came he
faced the usual immense concourse.
He did not come out of the little room
until the last moment. When he nnal-
ly appeared. his face bore marks OF
tears. At last they had flowed as a re-
lief TO his burden, and he gave the peo-
pie his message with a courage ana a
peace and a love born of direct COM
munion with the Spirit Of Truth.
As he went on people began TO listen
in amazement He had begun by Civ
ing them a statement Of facts concern
ing the sinful needy. desperate con-
dtion of life in the place. He then
lrapidly sketchrd the contrast between
the surroundings Of the Christian and
Inon-Christian people between tho