Morris tribune., 1902-05-24

He compelled us to scOrn the gay
heartless selfishness Of the young foo
setting forth so jauntily from the bro
ken home; he moved our pity and oul
sympathy for the young profigate
who, broken and deserted, had still
pluck enough to determine to work his
way back, and who, in utter despera
ton, at last gave it up, and then he
showed US the homecoming-the rag,
ged, heartsick tramp, with hesitating
steps, stumbling along the dusty road
and then the rush Of the old father, his
garments futtering and his voice heard
in broken cries. I see and hear it all
now whenever the words are read.
He announced the hymn, ''Just as
Am" read the first verse, and then went
on: There you are, men, every man of
you. somewhere on the road. Some OF
you are toe lazy"-hera Grae1na nndged
me-"and some Of you haven't got
enough vet Of the far country to come
back. May there De q chance for you
when YOU want to come. Men. YOU all
want to so back home, and when you
go you'll want to put on your soft
clothes. and you won't go till you can go
in good style. But where did the prOdi-
gal get his good clothes?"
Quick came the answer in Baptiste' S
shriII voice:
"FrOm de old fadderr'
No one was surprised, and the minis
ter went on:
Eyes, and that's where we must get
the coed. clean heart-the good, clean,
brave heart-from our Father. Don't
wait; but, just are you are, come.
Sing"
They sang, not loud, as they would
'Stand Up" or even The Sweet By
and BY" but in voices suDdued, hold
ing down the power in them.
After the singing Craig stood a mo-
ment gazing down at the men and then
said quietly:
''Any man want 70 come? You all
might come. We all must come"
Then sweeping his arm over the au-
djene and turning half round as if to
move off, he cried in Z voice that thrill
Ell t. tie hearts core:
"NN, come on. Let's 80 hack!'
ILn effect WAS uvrrroworjng. 1t
seemed t. me that The Who'll" company
bali ross, to their fert. OF The prayer
tllHt immediately ic!l3WpI only
CNr4At tie vl'vutGy sentence, "Father
,va NO rn.2};ry back" for my attention
>.as Su,2Geoj" .la3r1,:at by .lbe. the
s;tc, =. driver. who wa, sitting next me
r,l1II hrYr h.G swearing ;innrOval
.;n.I a..Inir.t;Dn. sa";nH 10 himself:
,,t,n.t h,.3 s.1:..knr? VII !.n .l4 whiz-
zlv ..nI' l;l%.wf if h: ain, Il l!uIleabIe
irnn. ,54uhjn hack action. self 3;!iustin!
corn crHrE.r.'
Ard I've nrn,-rr continued, to be-
n17nct7Htc.i Wira like 1tnniring anG
even more @11.,':rrpns pyDIe1iyus. L
was IN inrungl1?@rS medley. The ear
nest, r,,ycrp1t PRAYER and the earnest
aun:rin@ profanity rendered chaoti
ones ideas Ct RELIGIOUS 1r0priatv. Tho
feelings in both were akin, tile meth0;
of EXPRESSION SOMEWHAT widely di.
verse.
After PRAYER Craig's tone CHANGED
utterly. In 4 quiet. matter of fact
businesslike way he stated his plan OF
organization and called for all who
wished to iAin TO remain after the ben
edictiUn. Some fifty men were left
among them Nelson. Sandy. LachIa?
Campbell, BaDtistp Shaw. Nixon
Geordie and Billy Breen. who tried t.
get out. but was held fast by Geordie.
Graore was raSS:no o17r Int STONED
him to remain. saving that | wished
ito see the thing out" Abe sat still.
beside me, swearing disgustedIy at the
fellows who were g0in back on til,
preacher" Craig appeared amazed al
the number Of men remaining and
seemed to fear that something wa,
wrong. He put before them the terms
Of discin1rsh:D os rho lTako,. 1,7t thor,
to the eager scriho and he did no,
make them easy. He pictured the kina
Of work to be done and the kind Of
men needed for the doing of it. Abe
grew uneasy rs the minister went o,
to describe thn can7n1otonoss of tho s17r
render, the intensity of the LOYALTY de
manded.