Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-05-24
"Nhat prohIemln

out OF their elegant houses and comm,
down here to liveF The old man ask
Cd the question in utmost simplicity.
No; did not ask them"
! "lou ought to-
What! DO you believe my peopl,
ought literally to leave their posses
sions and live among the pe0pleT
Philip could not help asking til,
question, and all the time he was con
seious Of strange absurdity, mingled
with an unaccountable respect for hi.
visitor and his opinion.
Yes" came the reply with the
calmness of light. Christ would de-
mand 1t if he were pastor Of Calvary
/ church In this age. The church mem.
bers, the Christians in this century
must renounce all that they have OF
they cannot be his disciples"
Philip sat profoundly silent. The
words spoken so quietly by this crea-
ture tossed upon his own soul like a
| vessel in a tempest. He dared not say
anything for a moment The Brother
| Man looked over and said at last.
What have you been preaching about
Since you came hereg'
"a great many things"
'What are some Of the things you
have preached abouty'
"Well'-Philip clasped his hands
over his knees-"I have preached about
the right and wrong uses Of property,
the evil Of the saloon, the Sunday as
day Of rest and worship, the necessi-
ty Of moving our church building down
into this neighborhood. the need Of
living ON a simpler basis and. lastly,
the true work Of n church in these
days"
Has your church done what you
have wishedT'
NO replied Philip, with a sigh.
win it do what you preach ought
tU DC uuue
Il do not know"
"Why don't you resignf"
The question came with perfect sim
plicity, but it smote Philip almost like
a blow II was spoken with calmness
that hardly rose above a whisper, but
it seemed to the listener almost like a
shout The thought Of giving up his
work simply because his church had
not yet done what he wished or be-
cause some Of his people did not like
him was the last thing a man Of his
nature would do. He looked again at
the man and said:
Would you resign IL you were in my
placer
No" 1t was so quietly spoken that
Philip almost doubted if his visitor
had replied. Then he said, what has
been done with the parsonageT
1T is empty. The church is waiting
TO rent It 10 some one who expects to
move 10 Milton soon"
"Are you sorry you came hereT'
"No. am happy In my work"
do you have enough TO eat and
WEAR"
Yes. indeed. The thousand dollars
which the church refused 10 take of
my salary goes to help where most
needed. The rest is more than enough |
for us"
Does your wife think SOP The |
question from any one else had been |
From this man 1t was
not
let us call her in and ask her" re-
piled Philip. with a smile.
sarah the Brother Man wants TO |
know II you have enough TO live on"
Sarah came in and sat down. II was
dark. The year was turning into the /
softer months Of spring, and all the
outdoor world had been benediCtion l
that evening If the sorrow and poverty
and sin Of the tenement district so
near had not pervaded the very walls
and atmosphere Of the entire place.
The minister's wife answered brave
": ayes, We have food and clothing
and LIES necessaries. But, OH, Philip,
this life is wearing you out, Yes
Brother Man she continued, while
tear rolled over her cheek, the minis
ter is giving his Likelihood for these
people. and they do not care. II is a
vain sacrifice" She had spoken as
frankly as il the old man had been
her father There was "A something
ia him which called out such conf
ience.
Mr.. Strong soothed his wife, clasplng
her to him tenderly. There, Sarah,
rou are nervous and tired l am lit
lie discouraged. but strong and hearty |
or the work. Brother Man. you must
lot think we regret your advice. We
ave been blessed by following it,
And then their remarkable guest
stretched out his arms through the
atheriug gloom in the room and seem
a to bless them. Later in the even
NJ he again called for Bible and
.nered a prayer of wOudrous sweet
less. lie was shown to his plainly fur
Iished room. He looked around and .
miled.
~This is like my old home" he said;
a palace, where the poor die Of hun
err
Philip started at the odd remark,
hen recolIected that the old man had
nee been wealthy. and sometimes in
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