Willmar tribune., 1900-07-25
|H||E '|| gRUC|F|K|ON Of PHILIP STRONG.
BY REV. CHARLES RI. SHElDOM.
Author of "In His Steps, Etc.
1899, by the Advance Publishing Co.
[CoNcLuDED. ]
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CHAPTER yxIv.

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.sS CONCLUDED. &4&@:L
Ii .S.,4..$ I'll. CHAPTER XIV. i. E..
In the first place the minority in the
church held meeting and voted to
ask Philip to- remain, pledging him
their hearty support In all his plans
and methods. The evening paper, In
Its report of this meeting. made the
most Of the personal remarks that were
made and served up the whole affair in
sensational items that were eagerly
read by every one In Milton.
But the most Important gathering Of
Philips friends was that Of the mill
men. They met in the hall where he
had so often spoken, and, being crowd
ed out of that by the great numbers.
they finally secured the use of the
courthouse. This was crowded with
an excited assembly, and in the course
of very many short speeches. in which
the action of the church was severely
condemned. resolution was offered
and adopted asking Mr.. Strong to re-
main in Milton and organize an asso-
citation or something Of similar order
for the purpose of sociological study
and agitation. pledging whatever fnan-
cial support could be obtained from
the working people. This also was
caught up and magnified in the paper,
and the town was still reused to ex-
citement by all these reports when
Philip returned home late Saturday
afternoon. almost reel::y with exhaus-
tion and his: heart tor, with the sepa-
ration from his old chum.
However, he tried to conceal his wea-
riness from Sarah and partly succeed
ed. After supper he went up to his
study to prepare for the Sunday. He
had fully made up his mind what lie
would Go, and he wanted to do it in a
manner that would cast no reproach
on his ministry, which be respected
with sensitive reverence.
He shut the door and began hi: prep.
aration by walking up and down. as
his custom was. thinking out the de.
tails Of the service, his sermon, the ex-
net wording of certain phrases he
wished to make.
He had been walking thus back and
forth half dozen times when lie felt
the same acute pain in his side that
had seized him when he tainted in
church at the evening service. 1t pass.
ed away, and he resumed his work
thinking 1t was only a passing disor.
der. But before he could turn again
IN his walk he felt a dizziness that
whirled everything in the room abou,
him. He clutched at chair and was
conscious Of having missed it, and
then he fell forward in such q way
that he Lay partly on the couch and on
the floor and was unconscious.
How long lie had been in this condi
ton he did not know when he came tc
himself He was thankful, when he
did recover sufficiently to crawl to his
feet and sit down on the couch, that
Sarah had not seen him. He managed
to get over to his desk and begin tc
Write something rs he heard her com
Ing up stairs. He did not intend to de-
ceivc her His thought was that he
would not unnecessarily alarm her. He
was yer! tired. 1T dil not need much
uxging to persuade him to get to bed
lie awoEe Sunday morning feeling
strangely calm and refreshed The
morning prayer with the Brother Mar
came like a hcnetliction to them all
Sarah. who had feared for him owing
to the severe strain he. had been en-
durin-. felt relieved as she saw how
he appeared. They all prepared to &C
to church. the Brother Man and Viii
liam going out for the first time since
the attack.
We have mentioned Philips custom
of coming into his pulpit from the LITTLE
room at the side door Of the platform
Ihis morning he went in at the sidt
door of the church after parting Will
| Sarah and the others. He let Brother
Man and William go on ahead n little
and then. drawing his wife to him. Ii,
stopped and kissed her. He turned a
the top of the short fight Of steps lead
ing up to the side entrance and saw
her still standing in the same place
Then she went around from the littl
court to the front of the church ant
went in with the great crowd alread,
beginning to stream toward Calvar,
church.
| No one ever saw so many people il
Calvary church before. Men sat O,
:he platform and even in the dee]
window seats. The spaces under til
large galleries by the walls were file,
mostly with men standing there. Th
house was crowded long before til
hour of service. There. were man
beating. excited hearts in that aud
ence. More than one member felt
Shame at the action which had bee
taken and might have wishs1 1t recall
ed. With the great number Of work
|lngmen ari young people in the chuir:i
there was only one feeling; 1t WIS {
= feeling of love for Philip and Of sor
row for what had been done The fac
that he had been away from the city
that he had not talked over the mat
ter with any one owing to his absence
the uncertainty as to how he woul(
receive the whole thing, what hi
! would say on this first Sunday aftc
the letter had been written-this at
tracted q certain number Of person
Iwho never so inside church excep
I for some extraordinary occasion o
In hopes Of sensation. So the audi
& ence that memorable day had som
cruel people present, people who na1
3 rowly watch the faces of nourners a
& funerals to see what rayages grief la
3 made on the hecountenance.
The organist played his prelud
4 through md was ahO11t~fo StCn Wllti