The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-02-20

Is compliment 10 the ministry fnat
the un-C Christian part of the community
turns to the church and the preacher
for comfort and help. All these things
accepted when / entered the profes-
sion. I would be a fool to act the baby
now that heavy burdens of trouble i'm
other peoples lives are rolled upon me.
1t is all part of the profession which
deliberately chose. A doctor might
as well complain that his work brings
him face to face all the time with
physical pain as the minister complain
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
ness of preacher and pastor. But the
doubt that lately has begun to torment
me is the doubt that all this that l am
doing In and through the church is
worth while doing through that organ
ization. My ideals are constantly disap-
pointed. With the exception of the
minority that can be found in almost
every church I am obliged to confess
that my views of the real work a
church ought to do are not accepted by
my people. and I 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 n great longing to
serve in the place where 1t will amount
to something"
You are tired out" John Gordon
laid his hand affectionately on Paul
Falmouth's arm. He did not know
just what else to say. His thought of
the church had coinciied too closely
with the minister's TO enable him to
come to the defense of the church as II
Falmouth's doubts.
The minister smiled at Gordon rather
sadly.
Il may be tired at present. but that
does not account for my present posi-
ton Don't let 1t 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
1t 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 60
when Miss Andrews entered with q
glow on her face that struck both men
as new look.
Read thatI'' she said. putting let.
ter into Gordon's hand.
The letter was from Mrs. George Ef.
fingham.
My Dear Miss Andrews-Pardon my de-
lay in answering your beautiful letter
My grandson has been very Ill. and the
care OF him has confined me constantly al
his bedside. ! am not quite as young as
I used to be and begin to feel the weight
of my years on my body. though my SOU
is still fresh and vigorous. thank God.
So poor Mr.. Barton has passed on.
shall enjoy having time enough to make
his acquaintance over there. He was q
brave and noble soul and is now enjoy.
ing his reward. 1 do not know that you
were at all acquainted with him. oi
course. but II was. as you know. through
his correspondence that I first was infiu-
enced to think of your particular work as
q worthy place intc which n little money
might go for humanity's sake. In one
sense. therefore. he is the real donor OF
whatever seems to come from me.
On condition that my name is not used
anywhere on any buildings that may be
erected and also on condition that the pa
pers do not get hold of the matter and
ask for my photograph. with n biograph-
ical sketch. would like to give 10000 &c
Hope House to use In any way you and
your workers think best When you have
used that up. will give another hundred
thousand to be spent in the same or in
any other manner you may decide.
Now. my dear friend. don't draw up any
resolutions OF thanks. Just simply cash
the check l have today deposited with the
Bank of Commerce and use Il as quick as
you can to help those poor little children
! don't see. myself. what you can do tc
better or brighten their lives very much
You said in your letter to me that the
tenement house conditions themselves
were getting worse all the time IL you
put In parks and Fairgrounds. It will only
help the situation in the way of relieving
misery. II won't remove the cause o!
misery. will it7 But the Lord knows that
In this world of all kinds of trouble we
are to do the best We can under condi-
! tions as they are and hope some time to
get deep enough down to humanity's sin
| and suffering so as TO reach the real causes
| Of human trouble and remove them
When We get to that place. I am con-
vinced we shall simply find that God and
man have got to work together like good
friends to bring about results
With the best OF wishes to you In your
noble work and with prayers that those
children may have some good times to
make up for all they suffer. / am heartily
your friend.
MRS. CAPT. GEORGE EFFINGHAM.
John Gordon had read the letter
aloud so that Falmouth could hear. az
Miss Andrews said she wanted him to
know the good news. When Gordon
finished, Falmouth exclaimed: We'll
! II that isn't tonic to restore ones
faith in humanity. Two hundred thou
you can work miracles with all that
money!
| II could use million without touch
ing much more than the edge of al
this misery" she said quickly. and ther
added with n self accusing tone: Goo
forgive me, What am l saying? Thi:
great gift from this old lady VIII saw,
hundrcds-yes, thousands-of lives. w,
can work miracles with it. We can dC
wonders. Mr.. Gordon"
She was trembling with unusual emo
tion. 1t is nothing to be wondering
ahor1t pood men and women in th,
cities. This great soul is beginning t.
see some gleam of light piercing thu
heavy blackness of childhood. He
soul is straiuing at the thought of thu
lessening of even some small degree o
,pain and anguish, as they have smitteI
hnr these many manY drenry yparS