The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1900-01-19

Now, Philip, L don't see why, in a
choice of this kind, you don't do as
you feel inclined to do and accept the
call that pleases you most. Why should
ministers be doing what they ought T.
stead of what they like? You never
I please yourself"
"Well, Sarah" replied Philip good
naturally, this is the way Of it. The
church in Elmdale is in a xAversity
town. The atmosphere of the place Is
scholastic. You know l passed four
years of student life there. With the
exception of the schools, there are not
a thousand people in the village, a
quiet, sleepy, dull, retired, studious
place. l love the memory of it. l
could 60 there as the pastor Of the
Elmdale church and preach to an al
dience of college boys eight months in
the year and to about so refined, schol-
arly people the rest of the time. l
could indulge my taste for reading and
writing and enjoy a quiet pastorage
there to the end of my days"
Then, Philip, | don't see why you
don't reply to their call and tell them
you will accept, and W. will move at
once to Elmdale and live and die there.
1t is a beautiful place, and | am sure
we could live very comfortably on the
salary and the vacation. There is no
vacation mentioned in the other call"
But, on the other hand" continued
the minister, almost as if he were alone
and arguing with himself and had not
heard his wife's words, ION the other
hand, there is Milton, q manufacturing
town of $4,000 people, mostly opera
tives. 1t is h center of much that be-
longs to the stirring life of the times in
which we live. The labor question is
there in the lives of those operatives.
There are seven churches of different
denominations, to the best of my
knowledge. all striving after popularity
and power. There is much hard, stern
work to be done in Milton by the true
church of Christ, to apply his teachings
to mems needs, and somehow l cannot
help hearing a voice say: Philip Strong,
go to Milton and work for Christ.
Abandon your dream of a parish where
you may indulge your love Of scholar
ship in the quiet atmosphere of a uni
versity town and plunge into the hard,
disagreeable, but necessary work of
this age, in the atmosphere of physical
labor, where great questions are being
discussed and the masses are engross-
ed in the terrible struggle for liberty
and home, where physical life thrusts
itself out into society, trampling down
the spiritual and Intellectual and de-
manding of the church and the preach
er the fighting powers of giants of God
to restore in mems souls a more just
proportion of the value Of the life of
man on earth
$50, you see, Sarah" the minister
went on after a little pause, Il want to
go to Elmdale, but the Lord probably
wants me to go to Milton"
Mrs. Strong was silent. She had the
utmost faith in her husband that he
would do exactly what he knew he
ought to do when once he decided
what it was. Philip Strong was also
silent a moment. At last he said,
Don't you think so, Sarah?"
q don't see how we can always tell
exactly what the Lord wants us to do.
How can you tell that he doesn't want
you to go to Elmdale? Are there not
great opportunities to influence young
student life in a university town? Will
not some one go to Elmdale and be-
come pastor Of that church,"
mo doubt there is a necessary work
to be done there. The only question is,
Am | the one to do it or is the call to
Milton more imperative? The more |
think of it, the more l am convinced
that | must go to Milton"
"Then," said the minister's wife, ris-
ing suddenly and speaking with a
mock seriousness that her husband
fully understood, Il don't see why you
called me up here to decide what you
had evidently settled before you called
me. Do you consider that fair treat
ment, sir? 1t will serve you right if
those biscuits | put in the oven when
you called me are fallen as completely
as Babylon. And | will make you eat
half a dozen of them, sir, to punish
you. We cannot afford to waste any
thing these times"
What" cried Philip slyly, mot on
$1,000 a year. But III eat the biscuits.
They can't possibly be any worse than
those we had a week after we were
m~arried-the ones we bought from the
bakery, you remember" Philip aided
hastily.
you saved yourself just in time,
them" replied the minister's wife. She
came close up to the desk and in a diff
ferent tone said. phillip, you know |
believe in you, don't you?
yes" said Philip simply. 81 am
sure you do. | am impulsive and i'm
practical; but. heart and soul and body
and mind. l simply want to do the will
of God. Is it not so?"
."I know it is" she said, land if you
go to Milton it will be because you
want to do his will more than to please
yourself"
Eyes. Then shall l answer the letter
tonight?"
eyes. if YOU have decided, with nv