The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-02-15

IL
The first Sunday was beginning 70
Ne more or less dreaded or anticipated
by Calvary church people. They were
learning to expect something radical.
sweeping almost revolutionary in Phil
ip's ntterances on Christ and Modern
society. Some agreed with him as
Tar as he had gone Very many had
been hurt at his plainness of speech.
This was especially true of the prop
erty owners and the fashionable part
of the membership. Yet there was a
fascination about Philips preaching
that prevented so far any very serious
outbreak or dissension 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, ne 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. 1t was, as
before. an inspiring congregation, and
Philip faced it, feeling sure in his heart
that he had great subject to unfold
and a message to deliver to the church
OF Christ such as he could not but be-
heve Christ would most certainly pre-
sent il 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
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 desirable-that is, the
homes are the very finest, and the peo-
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 it on
each side. 1t is considered the most
Fashionable street for drives and prom
enades. 1t is well lighted, well paved,
well kept. The people who come out
&c the houses on 3 street are always
well dressed. The people who go into
3hese seven churches are as rule well
dressed and comfortable looking. Mind
you" continued Philip raising his
hand with significant gesture, II do
NOT want TO have you think that l con-
slider good clothes and comfortable
looks as un-Christian or anything
against the people who present such al
appearance Far from it. | simply
mention this fact TO make the contrast
lam going TO show you all the palmer.
FOR let us leave b street now and go
down into the fats by the river. where
nearly all the mill people have their
homes. wish you would note first
the distance from Il street and the
churches TO this tenement district. 1t
Is nine blocks-that is. a little over
mile. To the edge of the tenement
houses faTthest from our own church
building it is mile and three-quarters.
And within that entire district. meas
II. ~ ,,ailaS thppn
lis not a church building. There are
two feeble mission schools, which are
held in plain. unattractive halls, where
every Sunday q handful Of children
meet, but nothing practically is being
done by the church Of Christ in this
place TO give the people in that part OF
the town the privileges and power of
the life of Christ, the life more album
dantly.
sThe houses down there are of the
cheapest description. The people VINO
come out of them are far from well
aressed. The streets and alleys are
dirty and i'll smelling, and no one
cares to promenade for pleasure up
and down the sidewalks in that neigh
horhood 1t is not a safe place to go
to at night. The most frequent dis
turbances come from that part Of the
town. All the hard characters find ref
uee there. And let me say that | am
not now speaking of the working peo-
pie. They are almost without excep-
ton law abiding. But in every town
like ours the floating population Of vice
and crime seeks naturally that part OF
. town where the poorest houses are,
and the most saloons. and the greatest
darkness. both physical and moral.
IF there is part of this town which
needs lifting up and cleaning and heal
ing and inspiring by the presence Of
r1s church OF Christ, II is right there
where there is no church. The people
On Il street and for six or eight blocks
each side know the gospel. They have
large numbers OF books and papers and
much Christian literature. They have
heen taught the Bible truths; they are