The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-08
By REV. CHARLES M. SHELDON,
CHAPTER XVI.

The day was beautiful and the church
as usual crowded TO the doors. There was
a feeling of hardly concealed excitement
on the part OF Calvary church. The action
OF Thursday night had been sharply
criticised. Very many thought Philip had
gone beyond his right In bringing such an
important subject before so small meet
ing OF the members and the prospect OF
the approaching baptism and communion
OF the sexton had drawn in crowd OF
people who ordinarily staid away from
that service.
Philip generally had no preaching on
communion Sunday. This morning ne re-
mained on the platform after tho opening
exercises and In a stiffness which was Al
most painful In it's Intensity he began TO
speak In low but clear and impressive
voice:
Fellow disciples OF the church OF Christ
on earth. we meet 10 celebrate the mem
ory OF that greatest of all beings, VINO, on
the eve of his own greatest agony pray
ed that his disciples might all be one, IN
that prayer he said nothing about color
or race or difference OF speech or social
surroundings. His prayer was that ms
disciples might all be one-one in their
aims, in their purposes, their sympathy
their faith. their hope. their love
very recently which makes II necessary
for me to say these words. The Holy
Spirit came into this room last sunday
and touched the hearts OF several young
men. who gave themselves then and there
to the Lord Jesus Christ. Among the men
was one OF another race than the Anglo
Saxon He was a black man. His heart
was melted by the same love. his mind IL
lumined by the same truth. He desired
10 make confession OF his belief, be bap-
tixed according 10 the commands OF Jesus
and unite with this church as humble
disciple OF the lowly Nazarene. His name
was presented with the rest at the regu-
lar committee meeting last Monday, and
that committee by vote OF to ?. reSds-
ed to present his name with recommenda-
tions for membership On my own respon-
sibility at the preparatory service Thurs
day night asked the church to act upon
this disciple's name There was legal
quorum OF the church present. BY vote
Of IS TO 12 the applicant for membership
was received according to the rules or
this church.
But after that meeting the man came
20 me and said that he was unwilling to
unite with the church. knowing that some
objected TO his membership. IL was
natural feeling for him 10 have. We had
a long talk over the matter. Since then
have learned that IL larger representa-
tion OF members had been present at the
preparatory meeting there is possibil-
ity that the number voting against re-
ceiving the applicant would have been
much larger than those who voted for
him
Under all these circumstances l have
deemed IL my duty to say what | have
thus far said and 10 ask the church to
take the action ] now propose. We are
met here this morning I'm full member
ship. Here Is a soul Just led out OF the
a 49, 49,. ~. rtt - frttt 10 la
one known 10 many of you as an honest.
worthy man. for many years faithful In
the discharge of his duties In this house.
There is no Christian reason why he
should be denied fellowship around this
table. wish. therefore. to ask the mem
bers Of the church to vote again on the
acceptance or rejection OF Henry Roland.
disciple Of Jesus. who has asked for per-
mission TO this body OF Christ In his
name. VIII all those IN favor OF thus re-
ceiving our brother into the great family
OF faith signify II by raising the right
hand7'
For q moment not a person in the
church stirred. Every one seemed
smittcn into sstonished inaction by the
sudden proposal OF the minister. Then
hands began TO 80 up. Philip counted
them. his heart beating with anguish
as he foresaw the coming result. He
waited a minute-it seemed TO many
like several minutes-and then said "All
those opposed to the admission OF the
applicant signify II by the same sign"
Again there was the same significant,
reluctant pause. then half dozen hands
went up In front OF the church Instant
~ from almost every part OF the house
hands went up In numbers that almost
doubled those who had voted In favor OF
admission. From the gallery on the