The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-03-20

rage TO 60 nome messenger DOW
brought message asking me to cali
at the hospital. as my parishioner was
In a critical condition and might die
before morning. l went at once and
stayed until midnight when the pa
tents condition grew letter, and left
for home. When l reached home, 1
found my wife sitting up with the boy,
who had become quite sick. l sent her
to bed and stayed up with the child
until he was better. Early this morn
ing was sent for by the family at
whose place the funeral was held, ask
ing me to call this morning, as one of
the members Of the family was in a Sc
rious condition. called, and when I
got to my study it was after 10 o'clock.
1t is Wednesday, and only part of
my next Sunday morning sermon is
completed. I have not even selected
text for the evening sermon. The sub
tect of my prayer meeting is Best Meth
DDS of Modern Bible Study have part
" prepared the service I have three
committee meetings tomorrow after
noon and an address in the evening on
the Duty of Good Citizens In the Com
ing Municipal Campaign This is be-
fore the mass meeting arranged by the
committee of fifty. There are FIVE or
six families in my parish in great need
Of my personal visitation, and two
deaths occurred yesterday, which
means funeral services tomorrow. My
assistant has been on the sick list for
nearly a month, and the church, of
course, cannot well supply his place,
although volunteers are doing some of
his work. / am not complaining, Cor
don. 1 have some of the best men and
women in the city in my church mem
bership. They are loyal and true, and
any man might well be proud of their
friendship
IL am not complaining either about
the bewildering number Of calls on my
time and sympathy from strangers and
people entirely outside of my parish. 1t
q compliment to the ministry that
the un-C Christian part Of the community
turns to the church and the preacher
1nr comfort and help. All these things
I accepted when I entered the profess
now that heavy burdens Of trouble in
ether peoples lives are rolled upon me-
It is all part of the profession which
] deliberately chose. A doctor might
% we'll complain that his WORK brings
him face to face all the time with
nhuciooI poip 90 tho ynipiStor oor,pIo n,
that his work brings him constantly
into the presence of sin sickness and
spiritual ruin. This is what every true
ministry means and always will mean,
and the man who wants to shirk all
that had better never enter the BUSH
ness of preacher and pastor. But the
doubt that lately has begun to torment
me is the doubt that all this that am
doing in and through the church Is
worth while doing through that organ
kation. My ideals are constantly disap-
pointed. With the exception of the
minority that can be found in almost
every church 1 am obliged to confess
that my views of the real work
church ought to do are not accepted by
my people, and l am going on with the
pressure on me of all this miScellane
Gus machinery of service, tormented
with the question, Is the church, after
all, the best organization for doing
work for humanity, or is the church
even approximately doing the things
that most need to be done? 1t is not
the service that l shrink from. I am
only filed with a great longing tC
serve in the place where it will amount
to something"
"You are tired OUT John Gordon
laid his hand affectionately on Paul
Talmouth's arm. He did not know
Just what else to say. His thought of
the church had conceded too closely
with the minister's to enable him to
come to the defense of the church as 1t
seemed to need defense in the face of
Falmouth's doubts.
The minister smiled at Gordon rather
sadly.
al may be tired at present, but that
does not account for my present posi-.
ton. Don't let it vex you," he added
quickly. Il ought not to have deliv.
cred my little woe here. This house is
the center of its own peculiar sorrows.
God forbid that should introduce into
It my own selfish egotism or even my
personal struggles for light in my own
darkness"
always room for one more, I am
sure" Gordon protested, but Falmouth
shook his head and refused to continue
the discussion. He had risen to go
when Miss Andrews entered with a
glow on her face that struck both men
as q new look.
Read thar she saIu, puc,-1,s 9 :s-.
ter into Gordon's hand.
The letter was from Mrs. George Eff.
fingham
Ito be Continued)