Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-08
CHAPTER XXI.
WHY THE PREACHER THREW HIS
LIFE AWAY

LIFE AWAY.
While Mrs. Worth and Sallie were still
! in the north, the Rev. John Durham re-
ceived a unanimous call TO the passionate
OF one Of the most powerful Baptist
churches IN Boston. with salary Of five
thousand dollars a year. He was receiy-
ing a salary of nine hundred dollars at
Hambright, which could boast at most
population OF two thousand. He declined
the call by return mail.
The committee were thunderstruck at
this quick adverse decision, refused 10
consider II final, and wrote him long ur-
gent letter Of protest against such ili-con-
sidered treatment They urged that he
must come to Boston and preach one sun
day, at least, I'm answer to their generous
OFFER before rendering a final decision
He consented TO do so. and went TO Bos-
ton. He sought Sallie the day after his
arrival.
soath, it's good to see you shining here in
the midst OF the splendours of the Hub,
the fairest Of them AM" he said shaking
her hand feelingly.
'You mean pining, not shining" She
protested.
.''Thafs better stnl I knew your heart
was In the right placer
How is he, doctor?" she asked.
Hes trying TO pull himself together
with his work, and succeeding. The shock
Of a great sorrow has steadied his nerves,
broadened his sympathies, and it Will
make him a man."
A look of longing came over her face.
81 don't want him TO be too strong with
out me-" she faltered-
'sNever fear. He's so respondent at
times 1 have to try to laugh him out of
countenance."
she smiled and pressed his hand for
answer as he rose to go.
How do you like these Yankees, Miss
Sallie?"
yond measure with everything I've seen.
You don't say sol How?"
well, thought they were cold-blood-
ed and inhospitable. never made a moro
foolish mistake. have never been more
at home. or been treated more graciously
in the south. To tell the truth, they seem
like our most cultured people at home,
warm-hearted, cordial sensible and
neighborly. Mamma Is so pleased she's
trying TO claim kin with the Puritans.
through her Scotch COvenanter ances-
try"
after all, I believe you are right.
never preached in my life 10 so sensitive
an audience. There's an atmosphere of
solid comfort. good sense, and intelli-
gence that holds me I'm a spell here This
Is the place in which I've dreamed I'd
like 10 live and work"
Then you win accept, DoctOr?"
Now listen TO you. child! Don't you
think I've a heart too? My brain and
body longs for such a home. but my
hearts down south with mine own peo-
pie who love and need me-"
The committee did their best to bring
the preacher to a favorable decision at
once. but he smiled a firm refusal. They
refused to report IL to the church, and
sent Deacon Crane. now a venerable man
OF IS. the warmest admirer OF the preach
er among them all q Hambright. They
authorized him 10 m e an amazing Of
fer OF salary II thai would be any in
ducement. and they felt sure 1t would.
When the deacon reached Hambright
ana saw its poverty and general air of
unimportance he felt encouraged.
"A man Of such power stay lifetime
| In this little holei IMPOSSIBLE he ex-
claimed under his breath when he looked
out of the bus along the wide deserted
looking streets with a struggling cottage
here and there on either side.
He stopped at the same hotel with the
preacher and became his shadow for
week. He was seated with him under
the oak in the square threshing over mis-
argument for the hundredth time, in the
most gOOd-natured, but everlastingly
persistent way. ..
Doctor. it's perfect nonsense for a man
OF your magnificent talents of your Gull
ture and power over an audience. TO think
of living always in little village like
thisr'
NO. deacon. my work is here for the
south"
But, my dear man, in Boston. II would
be for the whole nation. north and
south. I'll tell you what we viii do. Say
you viii come, and we will make your sal
airy 5000 a year. That's the largest sal
airy ever offered Baptist preacher in
America. You win pack our church with
people. give US new life and we can af-
ford IL. You viii be power in Boston,
and power I'm the world"
The preacher smiled and was silent. AT
length he said:
Il appreciate your offer. deacon. You
pay me the highest compliment you
know how TO express. But you prosper
Gus Yankees can't get into your heads the
idea that there are many things which
money can't measure"
But we know a good thing when we
see II, and we go for it," interrupted the
deacon. - 4
Believe me-" continued the preacher,
I appreciate the sacrifice, the generosity,
and breadth OF sympathy this offer shows
in your hearts. But 1t is not for me. My
work is here. don't mind confessing to
you that you have vastly pleased me with
that offer. I'll brag about It TO myself
the rest OF my life"
But. doctor, think how much greater
power a generous salary will give you in
furnishing your equipment for work, and
in ministering to any cause you may have
at heart" pleaded the deacon.
Il don't know. I have a salary of nine
hundred dollars. With five hundred
buy bOoks-food. clothes. shelter. the
companiOnship for the soul The balance
sufiices for the body. 1 haven't time to
bother with money. The man who re-
ceives big salary must live up to its
social obligations. and he must pay for it
with HIS life"
Doctor there must be some tremend-
Gus force that holds you TO such
a decision in a village. IL seems to me
you are throwing your life away"
There is tremendous force. deacon. 1t
Is the overwhelming. sense of obligation
feel TO my own people who have suf-
fered so much. and are still I'm the grip
of poverty. and threatened with greater
trials. can't leave my own people while
they are struggling yet with this unsolved
negro problem. Two great questions
shadow the future OF the American peo-
pie. the conflict between labor and capt.
tai. and the conflict between the African
and the Anglo-SaNon race. The great
est, most dangerous and most hopeless
Of these. is the latter. My place is here"
The deacon laughed. You're a crank
on that subject. Come TO Boston and you
viii see with a better perspective that
the question is settling itself. In fact the
war absolutely settled IT,"
| Deacon said the Draacher with q