Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-04-11
The
Reformer
D @HE3 r. 2dDuN
Author Of IN Hts Stepn," ~Robwt
HAxdy1 Seven D2yA" Etc
FCOyTIyC Ed
CopYTt0ht, 1901, b. CAGTtes II Shkzdoo

silence that followed When Falmouth
again raised lis head, he said, with
rare smile:
Il envy you, Gordon would al
most like to change places with you
You seem to be doing work that needs
to be done You are doing things
am writing about them Some day
BE stopped abruptly and then asked:
IF you were In my place, what
course would you take with the moi
eyed business men in this church to
touch them with a sense Of their re-
sponsibiIIty and privilege as stewards
OF Gods wealth.
Gordon answered instantly:
Get as many OF them as possible to
go down into Bowen street and see
how the other half lives"
Falmouth's eyes giea med
Il doubt If they will go. I'll Try It.
I have never been there myself But
see your point Yo1 think the men
the facts. You think q knowledge Of
the facts would teach them to do some
thlngT
Not necessarily. But the cultured,
wealthy people in our churches as a
rule know absolutely nothing from per
sonal knowledge of the horrors Of city
life. They never go outside the little
circle Of the respet,ca ble comforta BILE
and IN many Ca ses luxurious conditions
into which they were born am con-
gInced that il 500 Of the best business
men in the churches of this city could
see the things I have seen within the
last two weeks, and know the facts
that every resident in Hope House
knows like the alphabet the present
awful wrongs would not be permitted
10 the city. The Christ method was
personal familiarity with sinful COZ
ditions- He was i Saviour because he
himself knew the sinner The weak
ness Of the church lies in the fact that
it has dropped out SO largely the per
sonal factor and exists too much for
its own religious life in its Ella borare
church services which in SO many
cases have no other meaning than
pride and vainsiory OF the parrici-
pants But I forget myself" Gordon
smiled sadly. Il am not 1T to crit
else the church, who for so many
years dishonored her with lip service
and formal Worship"
You have as much right to criticise
her as any Christian if you do it in the
right spirit" Falmouth sad gently.
Then be added: Let Us have prayer
together before you go We need to
ask forgiveness for many things and
wisdom for everything
So the two men kneeled while the
minister prayed, 1t was good, strong,
sturdy prayer that did John Gordon
good There was no whining. no cant,
60 planning. An honest heart plea
for more strength, more rolerar ton
more faith more love, more patience,
and Gordon, after hearty handshake,
went out and back to Hope House,
where be had agreed to meet Falmouth
and the singers little before 3 clock
At O'Clock Bowen street was fully
aware that something unusual was
taking place. 4 'funeraI' in Bowen
street was as q rule an Informal affair
IN which tie Immediate neighbors were
alphabetically Interested. But this at
fair of the deformed Louie Caylor
promised unusual Developments Word
had gone around that Tommy Randall
had been temporarily "downed' in a
set to" with one Of the gents from
Hope House, but that before the tuner
al was over he would be on top Of the
pile, SO to speak and every body sa It's
fed So Bowen street poured into the
court Of No. 81 and choked the narrow
st2rways and back yards comma ndine
a possible view OF the funeral party.
When John Gordon. Falmouth and
the quartet turned into the court on
the street, the amazement of the dit
fefent members OF the choir had giver
way to an expression OF disgust min
Eied with actual fear.
For PHYS sake, Mr.. Falmouth
where are you taking u.s. exclaimed
the tenor, distinguished looking man
Wen known in musical circles as Z
growing singer at fashionable recep
tons The soprano, a young woman o.
some beauty. and the alto. little older
but woman OF real strength Of ex
preston drew closer together az til.
miscellaneous crowd of Bowen stree
pressed nearer and the real horror O.
the place began to make itself felt
The gentleman who sang bass wa!
with John Gordon and was looking a
him with look Of intense indignation
As it he were the real cause of bringin:
the party into the place
do you wish to go back: You cal
II you wish" Falmouth said quietly.
NO, no; but this is horrible It i
PAST all belief Is it safe for the ladies'
VIII they be able
Perfectly safe, ladies'" John Gordol
spoke with touch of grTmness- ~Peo
Die are born and live and die here
Safe enough. assure you
He led the way promptly, asking tn
people to give them roozn- How tn
quartet ever lived to get up that stair
case where Mr.. Marsh nearly fainte,
: NO one can tell except themselves tn
soprano said afterward that it was