Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-02-08

ginning TO take 10 you, ana while they
won't come up to church they will
turn out to hear you down there"
"All right. When do you want inc
TO Gomez"
Say next Tuesday. You know where
the hall ISL"
Philip nodded He had been by it in
his walks through that part of Milton.
The spokesman for the workmeu ex-
pressed his thanks and arose to go, but
Philip asked him to stay few mo-
ments. He wanted to know at first
hand what the mans representative
fellows would do If the church should
at any time decide to act after Philips
ylan.
well. to tell the truth. Mr.. Strong,
! don't believe very many of them
would Join any church
That is not the question. Would
they feel the church any more there
than where it is now?'
Yes, | honestly think they would.
They would come out to hear you"
"Well, that would be something, 10
be sure" replied Philip smiling. But
rs to the wisdom of the plan-how
does it strike you on the whole?'
Il would like to see it done. l don't
believe shall, though"
"Why?"
Your church won't agree to it."
Maybe they will in time"
81 hope they will. And let me tell
you, Mr. Strong, even if you succeeded
in
come into the tenement district you
would find plenty of people there who
wouldn't go to hear YOU"
Il suppose that is so. But, oh. that
we might do something! Philip clasp
ed his hands over his knee and gazed
earnestly at the man opposite The
man returned the gaze almost as ear
neStly. 1t was the pprsoniiication of
the church confronting the laboring
man. each in a certain way asking the
other, What will the church do?"
And II was n noticeable fact that the
minister's look revealed more doubt
end anxiety than the other mans look,
which contained more or less of indf-
ference and distrust. Philip sighed
and his visitor soon after took his
leave.
SO it came about that Philip Strong
plunged into work which from the
time he stepped into the dingy little
hall and faced the crowd peculiar to it
had a growing influence on all his
strange career. grew in strangeness
rapidly as days came on.
He was invited again and again to
address the men in that part of Milton.
They were almost all of them mill EN-
ployees. They had a simple organization
for debate and discussion of questions
of the day. Gradually the crowds in
creased as Philip continued to come
and developed series of talks on
Christian socialism. There was stand
ing room only. He was beginning to
know number of the men, and
strong affection was growing up in
their hearts for him.
That was Just before the time the
trouble at the mills broke out. He had
just come back from the hall where he
had now been going every Thursday
evening and where he had spoken on
his favorite thcmc-"The Meaning and
Responsibility of Power, Both Finan-
cial and Mental" He had treated the
subject from the Christian point OF
view entirely. He had several times
ousod his rude audience TO enthusiasm.
Moved by his theme and his surround.
mgs. he had denounced. with even more
than usual vgor. those men of ease
and wealth who did nothing with their
money To help their brothers. He had
mentioned as he went along, what
great responsibility any great power
puts on man and had dealt in broad
way with the whole subject of power
In men as "A thing to he used and al
ways used for the common good.
He did not recall his exact state
ments, hut felt n little uneasy as he
walked home. for fear he might posi-
bly, have influenced his particular au-
dience against the rich as a class. He
had not intended anything of the kind, |
but had vague idea that possibly he
ought to have guarded some words or
sentences more carefully.
He had gone up into his study to fin
ish some work when the bell rang
sharply, and he came down to open the
door just as Mrs. Strong came in from
the other room, where she had been
giving directions TO the girl, who had
gone up stairs through the kitchen.
The minister and his wife opened the
door together, and one of the neigh
bors rushed into the hall so excited he
could hardly speak.
"Oh, Mr. Strong, won't you 60 right
down to Mr.. Winters house? You
have more influence with those men
than any one around here"
What men?"
"The men who are going to kill him
II some one doesn't stop it,
What" cried Philip, turning pale,
not from fear, but from self reproach,
10 think he might have made mis-.
take. who is trying to kill hm-the
mill men,
Yes! No do not, cannot tell. |
But he is in great danger, and you are
the only man in this town who can
help TO save him. Gomez
Philip turned to his wife. Sarah, !
it is my duty. II anything should hap.
pen to me, you know my soul will meet |
yours at the gates of paradise
He kissed her and rushed out into |
the night
TO BE CONTINUED.