Willmar tribune., 1900-05-23

He was a black man. His heart was
melted by the same love, his mind IL
Illuminated by the same truth. He de-
sired to make confession of his belief,
be baptized according to the commands
of Jesus and unite with this church as
a humble disciple of the lowly Naza-
rene. His name was presented with
the rest at the regular committee meet
ing last Monday. and that committee,
by vote Of 8. to 2, refused to present
his name with recommendations for
membership. On my own responsible
ty at the preparatory service Thursday
night asked the church to act upon
this disciples name. There was a
legal quorum of the church present
BY a vote. Of &c to - the applicant for
membership was received according to
the rules of this church
"But after that meeting the man
came to me and said that he was un
willing to unite with the church. know
ing that some objected to his member
ship. It was natural feeling for him
to have. We had long talk over the
matter. Since then l have learned
that if larger representation Of mem
bers had been present at the prepara
tory meeting there is possibility that
the number voting against receiving
the applicant would have been much
larger than those who voted for him.
Under all these circumstances l
have deemed 1t my duty to say what l
have thus far said and to ask the
church to take the action l now pro-
pose We are met here this morning in
full membership. Here is a soul just
led out of the darkness by the spirit of
truth. He is one known to many of
you as al honest, worthy man, for
many years faithful in the discharge Of
his duties in this house. There is no
Christian reason why he should be de-
MED fellowship around this table. l
wish, therefore, to ask the members Of
the church to vote again on the ac
ceptance or rejection of Henry Roland,
disciple of Jesus, who has asked for
permission to this body Of Christ in
his name. Will all those in favor of
thus receiving our brother into the
great family of faith signify it by rails
ing the right hand?'
For moment not person in the
church stirred. Every one seemed
smitten into astonished inaction by the
sudden proposal Of the minister Then
hands began to go up. Philip coucted
them, his heart beating with anguish
as he foresaW the coming result He
waited a minute-it seemed to many
like several minutes-and then said.
''All those opposed to the admission Of
the applicant signify it by the same
sign"
Again there was the same significant,
reluctant pause, then half a dozen
hands went up in front of the church.
Instantly from almost every part of
the house hands went up in numbers
that almost doubled those who had
voted in favor Of admission. From the
gallery on the sides, where several of
Philips workmen friends sat, a hiss
arose. 1t was slight, but heard by the
entire congregation. Philip glanced up
there, and it instantly ceased.
Without another word he stepped
down from the platform and began to
read the list of those who had been re-
ceived into church membership. He
had almost reached the end of it when
a person whose name was called last
rose from his seat near the front,
where all the newly received members
were in the habit Of sitting together,
and, turning partly around so as to
face the congregation and still address
Philip, he said:
"Mr. Strong, do not feel as if, after
what has taken place here this morn
ing, I could unite with this church
| This man who has been excluded from
church membership is the son of wo
man born into slavery on the estate OF
one OF my relatives. That slave wo
man once nursed her master through
a terrible illness and saved his life
This man, her son. was then a little
child. But in the strange changes that
have gone on since the war the son, OF
the old master has been reduced tc
poverty and obliged to work for liv.
AuS. ue Is LOW LII IulS COWn. lie Is
this very day lying upon a sick bed in
the tenement district And this black
man has for several weeks out of his
small earnings helped the son Of his
mothers master and cared for him
through his illness with all the devo.
| ton OF a friend.
II have only lately learned these
facts. But, knowing them as I do and
| believing rnat he is as worthy to sill
about this table as any Christian here
l cannot reconcile the rejection with
my own purpose to unite here. ]
therefore desire to withdraw my an
| plication for membership here. Mr.
Strong, l desire to be baptized and par
take of the communion as a disciple OF
Christ simply, not as a member OF Cal
vary church. Can do so"
Philip replied in a choking voice
"You can" The man sat down. Il
was not the place for any demonstra
tion. but again from the gallery came
a slight but distinct note of applause
AS before, It instantly subsided as
| Philip looked up. For moment ev