The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1908-01-24
u b.
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Around the stove.

i VIZ LutAuRSIS VI CHuAIA Aau Au0A
relied. Long though they had known
each other, highly as each esteemed the
other, the quarrel came. It was made
worse by reason Of the fact that the
Aecasion was trivial, and one related
to the church itself.
It was little church, and the men
were few. A quarrel between two Of
Its leading members could be hid from
no one; and 1t was deeply felt in the
loss of the two from most of their for
mer activities, for each refused to la
Dor in any work shared by the other.
Not always can the minister do much
In such case. Sometimes the best
meant effort only widens the breach.
lutte man, and one Of tact as well. After
repeated efforts, laboring with the two
men separately, holding up to them the
scandal Of their conduct, the evil
wrought upon the church and in their
own lives, he brought them at last face
to face in hts own home, each asked
the others forgiveness, and they re-
tnrned to the church.
Yet the reconciliation was not COM
plete. Each had given measured &C
acknowledgement, and waited to see how
much, the other would concede. Be
tween the two concessions was still q
disputable margin of fault which
neither had acknowledged. Each In his
heart felt something Of guilt uncon-
fessed. still cherished the memory Of
unkind words spoken by the other and
only partially retracted, and was say
ing in his heart that, come what might,
he would concede no additional inch.
Then the minister came again to the
breach. "N1r. Godfrey" he said to one
Of them, II want to ask one additional
favor Of you"
"You needn't ask me to acknowledge
any more" said Mr.. Godfrey.
mo, don't ask any further acknowl-
edgment. You have acknowledged
much, both of you. You have made a
good beginning. All I ask is this:
After meeting on Sunday, try to get
on the same side Of the stove with Mr..
Lynn
II don't see what that has to do with
it." said Mr.. Godfrey.
mo matter. Just do that. Will
your"
| With rather poor grace he promised
And then the minister exacted the same
promise from the other man.
Il don't think he cares to have me
come any nearer" said Mr.. Lynn.
Eyes, he Does" said the minister
"And you are now within six feet Of
each other. It is pity to come so far
to acknowledge SO much, and then fall
short You can't measure the distance
and meet halfway, for the stove is in
the way, and other things, too, perhaps
So come around"
The plan worked. The next Sunday
instead Of gathering, each with little
group Of friends, on opposite sides Of
the stove, the two men met where the
open space was largest The sermon
had been made five minutes shorter
than usual, and the time before Sunday
| pCACc1 w dS tuuS ulduC H1lL
their reconciliation made known ant
! published, as 1t had been for fort
night, there was nothing for the two
men to do but to act as II they were
reconciled; and soon a practical ques
ton Of church activity set them al
work together. The little margin OF
unconfessed wrong was left undecided
and the quarrel never broke out again
It often happens when good people
fall out, whether in home or church OF
neighborhood, that all that remains tc
complete a reconciliation is that the
two shall leave the unconfessed remain
der, after each has confessed what he
is willing to confess, and that both
shall gravitate to the same side of the
stove.-Youth's Companion.