The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-06-07
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
The first Sunday was beginning to
be more or less dreaded or anticipated
by Calvary church people. They were
learning To expect something radical
rwccping. almost revolutionary in Phil
lp's utteranccs on "Christ and Modern
Society" Some agreed with him rs
far as he had gone. Very many had
been hurt at his plainness of speech.
This was especially true Of the prop
of the membership. Yet there was
fascination about Philips preaching
that prevented 80 far any very serious
outbreak or disscnsion in the church.
He was a recognized leader. In his
presentation of truth he was large
minded. He had the faculty of hold
Ing mems respect There was no mis-
taking the situation. however, Mr..
Winter, with others, was working
against him. Philip was vaguely con
scious Of much that did not work out
into open, apparent fact. NeVerthe-
less, when he came up on the first Sun
day of the next month and began to an
nounce his subject, he found an audi
ence that crowded the house to the
doors, and among them were scattered
numbers Of men from the working
mems district with whom Philip had
talked while down there. il was, as
before, an inspiring congregation, and
Philip faced it, feeling sure in his heart
that he had a great subject to unfold
and a message to deliver to the church
of Christ such as he could not but be-
leve Christ would most certainly pre-
sent if he were living today in Milton.
He began by describing the exact
condition of affairs in Milton. To as.
sist this description he had brought
with him into the church his map of
the town.
Look now" he said, pointing out
the different localities, "at B street,
where we now are. Here are seven of
the largest churches of the place on
this street. The entire distance be
tween the first of these church build
ings and the last one is little over a
mile Three of these churches are only
two blocks apart. Then consider the
character of the residences and people
in the vicinity Of this street. 1t is
what is called dcsirablc-that is, the
homes are the very finest, and the pco-
pie, almost without exception. are re-
fined. respectable. well educated and
Christian in training. All the wealth
Of the town centers about b street All
the society life extends out from 1t on
each side. 1t is considered the most
fashionable street for drives and prom
cnadcs. 1t is well lighted well paved,
well kept. The people who come out
of the houses on i street are always
wet dressed. The people who go into
these seven churches are as rule well
| dresS SCd and comfortable looking. Mind
YOU" continued Philip. raising his
hand with n significant gesture, Il do
not want to have you think that / con
slider good clothes and comfortable
| looks as un-Christian or anything
against the people who present such an
appearance. Far from it. l simply
! mention this fact to make the contrast
am going to show you all the palmer.
For let us leave i street now and GO
down into the flats by the river, where
nearly all the mill people have their
homes. / wish you would note first
the distance from b street and the
churches to this tenement district. II
Is nine blocks-that is, a little over d
mile. To the edge Of the tenement
houses farthest from our own church
building it is n mile and three-Quarters
And within that entire district, meas
uring nearly two by three miles, there
is not a church building. There are
two feeble mission schools, which are
held in plain, unattractive halls, where
every Sunday handful Of children
meet, but nothing practically is being
done by the church of Christ Ia this
place to give the people in that part OF
the town the privileges and power OF
the life of Christ, the life more abun
dainty.
"The houses down there are Of th'
cheapest description. The people VIII
come out Of them are far from wei
dressed. The streets and alleys ar
dirty and Ill smelling, and no on'
cares to promenade for pleasure VI
and down the sidewalks in that neigh
borhood. It IL not safe place to g
to at night. The most frequent dis
turbances come from that part Of tn
! town. Al the he.d ehAcacters flnd ref