Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-05-10
An Easter Service
of Two
[Origtunl.


structure OF fine proportions, held the
regular morning service at IL o'clock.
In the little gothic affair overgrown
with ivy nesting modestly few hun
dred yards below the same service be-
gan at the old fashioned hour Of 1920.
The upper church was st. Matthew'S
the lower St Johns. The irreyerent
said the upper one was appropriately
named, St Matthew having been
money changer, and the church had
been built by multlmilllonaire.
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 Daisyfield he
bought up tract on one corner Of
which stood st. Johns The founder Of
st. Johns had been an aristocrat in
his day, but different kind of one
from Mr. Gallison-an aristocrat of the
American colonies. A descendant,
young Cecil Brant, clergyman, was
its 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-
llonaire built the church on the hill. 1t
was supposed to be Gods church, but
it was not; 1t was Mr.. Collisions
church. and 1t gradually absorbed st.
Johns congregation.
Mr. Brant walked across lots by the
accustomed path to his Easter Sunday
morning service with heavy heart
He entered the vestry and, taking out
his watch, noticed that the time was
1925. Looking out of window, he
saw throngs flocking to the church up
on the hill. There was to be special
music by a member of the grand opera
corps, hired by Mr.. Gallison for the
occasion. 1t was known there would
be n crowd and people were going ear
ly. At 1890 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 chirplng
birds, the opening buds, threw into
contrast the empty seats, which In the
rector's depressed state he could not
help lkening 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 wom-
an entered.
A strange pcture-thc rector turn
ing back to see his congrega. ton 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
II moment, when both advances. and
met midway in the aisle.
HAS 1t come to thls?" she said,
grasping his hand.
at has come to this"
where are the Bows, the noores,
the Roots and the Laytons?'
1.-THE music on the hill has been too
much for them
81 would have supposed that some
sense of Obligation"
Miss Van Vert" he said, speaking
impressively, II 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
hnf Ia 70,
confine Its malevolent influence. 1t
thrives by a principle--the principle OF
business, not the principle of the Gold
en- Rule. Against Its abuses and the
wrongs perpctrated in its accumula-
ton the religion of Jesus is an eternal
protest. Changeable IL form. I'M
changeable In spirit, the church no
more today than when 1t was founded
sanctions the beaping up OF wealth"
The words were followed by long
silence. The sunlight shining through
a window ana striking the clergyman
with the purple OF one of the saints de
picted there. Then she said;
when | opened the church door my
first sensation was one of disappoint
ment that | should miss my Easter
sermon. | have To thank you for the
best | have ever heard you deliver.
What are you going To do?"
'Sell this property mt an appraised
price to Mr.. Gallson. 1t Is no longer
available for Il church"
where will YOU go?"
II have a call to preach to a rich and
fashionable congregation"
"ShaIl you accept IT."
"No."
WHY"
They do not need my services nor
| the immense salary they offer me. |
shall so where | can do the most good.
The girl looked down, The sun had
moved and cast n bright light on her
face.
Il have heard" said the man, "that
you too, have had . call"
~ shah not accept y
Il am told Mr. Gnllson is n good
man"
"YoL can hear that of any rich man,
even IL he Is n devil"
suppose the field to which | shall
go should call you?"
''To labor for love T. She paused.