The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-06-11
An Easter Service
of Two
[Original.1


die of April before Easter. The new
church on the hill, white marble
structure Of fine proportions, held the
regular morning service at IL o'clock
In the little gothic affair OvergrowI
with ivy nesting modestly few hun
gan at the old fashioned hour of 1920
The upper church was St Matthew's
the lower ST Johns. The irrevereni
said the upper one was appropriately
named, ST. Matthew having been a
money changer, and the church had
been built by a multimillionaire.
Mr.. Gallison, it's founder, had climb
ed the ladder Of wealth from the low
est rung. He had commenced with a
fertilizer, had next turned carcasses or
parts Of them into glue and had come
out an Oil producer. When he decided
to build him a castle at DaiSytield he
bought up a tract on one corner OF
which stood ST. Johns. The founder of
st. Johns had been an aristocrat in
his day, but diaerent kind of one
from Mr.. GallisOn-an aristOcrat Of the
American colonies. A descendant,
young Cecil Brant. clergyman, was
It's owner and rector. Mr.. Gallison
made repeated offers for the ground
on which st. Johns stood, but the own
er would not sell. Then the multimil-
lionaire built the church on the hill. 1t
was supposed to be Gods church. but
it was not; it was Mr.. Collisions
church, and it gradually absorbed st.
Johns congregation.
Mr.. Brant walked across lots by the
accustomed path to his Easter Sunday
morning service with a heavy heart.
He entered the vestry and. taking out
bis watch, noticed that the time was
1925. Looking out of a window, he
on the hill. There was to be special
music by member of the grand opera
corps, hired by Mr.. GalliSon for the
occasion. 1t was known there would
be a crowd, and people were going ear
~. At 1920 Mr.. Brant opened the
door leading in to the church. Not a
soul was there.
There had been times when that
church had looked gloomy to Mr.
Brant. but nothing like this. Without
the warm SunbeamS, the chirping
birds, the opening buds, threw into
contrast the empty seats, which in the
rector's depressed state he could not
help likening to open graves. He was
turning away from the sight to re-
enter the vestry room when the front
door of the church opened and a wom-
an entered.
A strange picture-the rector turn
ing back to see his congregation Of one
entering the church, that congregation
standing. half surprised, half disap-
pointed look on her face. then resting
on the rector in pity. This lasted but
a moment, when both advanced and
met midway in the aisle.
HAS 1t come to thisY' she said,
grasping his hand.
1T has come to this"
where are the Bows, the Moores.
the Roots and the Laytons?"
1.-THE music on the hill has been too
"uCu IOE CueI0.
II would have supposed that some
sense Of obligation"-
Miss Van Vert" he said, speaking
impressively, Il have long had certain
views about our religion which this
little scene we are enacting under the
church on the hill confirms. Wealth is
the foundation Of earthly power. No
laws can be passed to restrain the
good that may be done with it or to
conf1ne its malevolent influence. It
thrives by a principle-the principle of
business. not the principle Of the Gold
en- Rule. Against its abuses and the
wrongs perpetrated in its accumula-
ton the religion Of Jesus is an eternal
protest. Changeable in form, un-
changeable in spirit, the church no
more today than when it was founded
sanctions the heaping up of wealth"
The words were followed by long
silence. The sunlight shining through
a window and striking the clergyman's
breast seemed to the girl to invest him
with the purple Of one Of the saints do
picted there. Then she said:
when opened the church door my
first sensation was one of disappoint-
ment that l should miss my Easter
sermon. I have to thank you for the
best have ever heard you deliver
What are you going to do?'
'Sell this property at an appraised
price to Mr.. Gallison. 1t Is no longer
available for a church"
where will you go?'
have call to preach to rich and
fashionable congregation"
"Shall you accept it,"
mo"
"Why?"
"They do not need my services nor
I the immense salary they offer me.
shall go where can do the most good"
The girl looked down. The sun had
moved and cast bright light on her
face.
IL have heard" said the man, THAT
you. too, have had call"
II shall not accept it."
Il am told Mr.. Gallison Is a good
mall"
"You can hear that of any rich man