Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-13

or the trustees, VINO ndu the ItpuNdNoh
OF beIn= very shrcwd business man.
THE question Is concerning the feasi-
billty Of moving this property a mile
into the poorest part Of the town and
then maintaining II there. In my opin-
ion II cannot be done. The expenses
OF the organization cannot be kept up,
We should lose some Of our best imam
cial supporters. Mr.. Strong's spirit
and purpose spring from a good mo-
tive, no doubt, but viewed from BUSH
ness point o. view the church In that
locality would not be success. TO
my mind II would be a very unwlse
thing 10 do II would practically de-
stroy our organization here and not
really establish anything there"
II 10 not believe we can tell until we
try" said Philip. 81 certainly DO not
wish the church 10 destroy Itself fool
ishly but DO feel that we ought 70 do
something very positive and very large
to define our attitude as savlors In this
community. And moving the house,
as ] PROPOSE has the advantage OF be-
ing a definite, practical step In the d.
rection Of a Chrlstllke use OF our pow
ers as q church"
There was more talk of the same
sort. but 1t was plainly felt by Philip
that the plan he had proposed was dis
tasteful TO the greater part Of the
church, and II the matter came to a
vote Il would be defeated lie talked
the plan over with his trustees. as he
had already done before he spoke in
public. Four Of them were decided IN
their objection TO the plan. Only one
fully sustained Philip. During the
week ne succeeded In finding out that
from his membership Of 500 less than
40 persons were willing TO stand by
him IN so radical a movement. And
yet the more Philip studied the prob
lem Of the town the more he was per-
suaded that the only way for the
church to make any impression on the
tenement district was 10 out Itself d.
rectly In touch with the neighborho0d
To accomplish that necessity Philip
was not stubborn. He was ready TO
adopt any plan that would actually do
something, but he grew more eager ey-
cry day that he spent in the study Of
the town to have the church feel its
opportunity and make Christ reality
10 those most in need Of him.
II was at this time that Philip was
surprised one evening by a call from
one u the worklngmen who had been
present and heard his sermon on NOV
ing the church into the tenement dis
trict.
II came TO see you particularly, Mr.
Strong, about getting you TO come
down 10 our hall some evening next
week ana give us q talk on some sub
ject connected with the signs OF the
tlmes."
"T1l come II YOU think l can do any
good in that way replied Philip, hesi-
tating a little.
II believe you can. The men are be-
ginning TO take 20 you, and while they
won't come w to church they will
turn out to hear you down there
"All right When do you want me
TO conner"
SAY next Tuesday. You know where
the hall is?"
Philip nodded. He had been by It In
mis- walks through that part OF Milton.
The Spokesman for the workmen 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 II the church should
at eny time decide TO act after Philips
plan,
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 II Is now?"
"Yes, | honestly think they would.
They would come out 10 hear you"
WELL that would be something, to
be sure" replied Philip, smiling. But
as to the wisdom OF the plan-how
does II strike you on the whole?"
81 would like to see II done. / don't
believe shall. though"
"Why?"
Your church won't agree 20 IT,"
Maybe they will In time
II hope they will And let me tell
YOU Mr. Strong, even II you succeeded
IN getting your church and people TO
come into the tenement district you
would lind plenty OF people there who
wouldn't go to hear your"
II suppose that Is 50. 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 earn
estly. II was the personihcation OF
the church confronting the laboring
man, each in a certain way asking the
other, what will the church do?
And IL was n noticeable fact that the
minister's look revealed more doubt
and anxiety than the other mans look,
which contained more or less Of indif-
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
hail and faced the crowd peculiar TO II
nod a growing influence on all his
strange career grew in strangeness
rapidly as days came on.
He vas invited again and again to
address the men in that part OF Milton.
They were almost all Of them mill en-
plOyes. They had simple organization
for dictate and discussion Of questions
Of the day. Gradually the crowds in
creased as Philip continued to come
and developed a series Of talks on
Christian socialism. There was stand
Ing room only. He was beginning 10
know number OF the men, and q
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 como back from the hall where he
had hoW been going every Thursday
evening and where he had spoken on
his favOrite theme-"The Meaning and
Responsibility Of Power, Both Finan-
clal and Mental" He had treated the
subject from the Christian point Of
view entirely, He had several times
reused his rude audience TO enthusiasm.
Moved b. his theme and his surround
ings, he had denounced. with even more
than usual vlgor those men Of ease
and wealth who did nothing with their
money TO help their brothers. He had
as he went along. what
great responsibility any great power
puts on a man and had dealt In a broad
way with the whole subject Of power
in men as a thing TO be used and al
ways used for the common good.
He did not recall his exact state
ment, but felt little uneasy as he
walked home, for fear he might posi-
bly, nave influenced his particular au-
iisnce against the rich as class. He
had not intended anything Of the kind.
but had a vague idea that possibly he
ought to have guarded some words or
sentences more carefully.
He had gone up into his study TO fin
ILL