Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-04-12

= church 10 make any impression on TIN
!. tenement district was 10 put itself iii
i rectly In touch with the neighhorhood
r To accomplish that necessity PhilIl
I was not stubborn. He was ready (,
!. adopt any plan that would actually ID
d something, but he grew more eager ey
: cry day that be spent in the study Of
the town to have the church feel lis
: opportunity and make Christ a reality
to those most in need Of him.
1t was at this time that Philip was
) surprised one evening by call from
. one of the workingmen who had been
, present and heard his sermon on moy-
ing the church into the tenement dis.
tIict,
Il came TO see you particularly, Mr..
Strong, about getting you to come
down to our hall some evening next
week and give us a talk on some sub
jcct connected with the signs Of the
times"
I'll come If you think | can do any
| good in that way" replied Philip, hest.
tating a little.
Il believe you can. The men are he
| ginning TO take to You, and while they
won't come up TO church they Will
turn out TO hear you down there"
IAN right. When do you want mo
| to Gomez
Say next Tuesday. You know where
the hail is%
Philip nodded. He had been by II In
his walks through that part Of Milton.
The spokesman for the workmen eX-
pressed his thanks and arose to 90. but
Philip asked him to stay a few mo
ments. He wanted to know NJ first /
hand what the mans representative I
fellows would do If the church should I
at any time decide to act after Philips /
plan.
well, to tell the truth, Mr.. Strong, I
/ 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 nowGa
Yes, l honestly think they would.
They would come out TO hear YOU"
We'll, that would be something, 10
be sure replied Philip, smiling. But
rs to the wisdom of the plan-how
ioes it strike you on the wholeg'
Il would like TO see 1t done. don't
believe l shall, though"
"WhyE'
Your church won't agree to it,
Maybe they viii In time"
Il hope they will. And let me tell
'ou, Mr. Strong, even if you succeeded
u getting your church and people to
ONE into the tenement district you
you'd find plenty Of people there who
wouldn't 20 to hear you"
Il suppose that is SO. But. oh. that
re might do something!" Philip clasp
d his hands over his knee and gazed
ut the man opposite. The
ian returned the gaze almost as ear
estly. 1t was the personlfcation of
ne church confronting the laboring
ian, each in a certain way asking the
Their, What viii the church doY"
nd 1t was noticeable fact that the
inister's look revealed more doubt
nd anxiety than the other mans look,
hieh contained more or less Of indif-
renee and, distrust. Philip sighed, 81
nd his visitor soon after took his
ave. 20
SO it came about that Philip Strong OF
unged into work which from the re
ne he stepped into the dlngy little =
III and faced the crowd peculiar to il Tor
ID growing influence on all his es
range career, grew in strangeness
pldlg as days came on.
He was invited again and again 10 It'll
dress the men in that part Of Milton.
icy were almost all of them mill en-
'yees, They lad simple organization BE
debate and discussion OF questions
the day. Gradually the crowds ill.,
'ased as Philip continued 10 come
d developed a series of talks on
rlstian socialism. There was stand
room only. lie was beginning 10
ow a number of the men, ana
ong affection was growing I'D in
,ir hearts for him.
hat was just before the time the II
uble at the mills broke out. He had
I come back from the hall where he 4
l now been going every Thursday
ming and where he had spoken on
faVorlte theme-"The Meaning and
sponsibility of Power, Both Fiuau- IA
and Mental lie had treated the III
'ject from the Christian point Of
W entirely. He had several times "a
sed his rude audience to enthusiast.
we'd 10y his theme and his surround Dea
;, he had denounced, with even more Ora
II usual yigor, those men of ease ana
wealth who did nothing with their ID
ley to help their brothers. He had who
ltioned, as he went alon, ,rhat hom
1t responsibility any great power
on man and had dealt in a broad Ran
with the whole subject of power -
men as a thing TO be used and al EIIiC
s used for the common good.
e did not recall his exact state
IT'S but felt a little uneasy as he :, 80
hed home, for fear he might posi- ssoalt
nave influenced his particular au- being
ce against the rich as a class. He on apr
not intended anything of the kind -
mad vague idea that DossibIv ba t.