The Newtown bee., 1909-05-28
The I'NewtoWn Bee
THE SUNDAY STAY.AT.H0ME.
By Milford W. Forshay.
'60GI 'sg ApW 'AppIIA 'uMolMeN

pofhood or, perhaps, bupV people, within easy walking distance of three Evangelical enurcnes, forming a kind of religious center. Only a small minority attends divine service regularly. There are, probably, 1000 sittings in these three church build lngs, and 1t is doubtful if more one- third is filled at any ordinary service. Here and there q member or family goes to q large downtown church or out to fashionable stone pile in the wealthy residential district. Most of the people in ourcommunity are of common, well-to-do, decent sort whose parents and grandparents be- lieyed in God, the Bible, going to church, and all that, and brought up their children to the same ideas. l always thought 1 believed in these things, until the other day some thing occurred that jared me into some thinking, and now I'm not so sure of myself.
 had just come down from the office and was looking at my neatly kept lawn when the clatter of run hing horse drew my glance down street and there was the ambulance coming full dash. My heart fairly stopped beating as it drew up across the street at Donaldson's. Now, people in a neighborhood like ours get quite well acquainted with the nearest families, especially the men; so l knew Donaldson as a very de- cent chap, with as nice a wife as lived on the street. They were de- voted couple and ambitious to get their little home paid for. If any thing happened to him I knew it would go hard with her.
 Sure enough, it was Donaldson, who had been knocked down and run over. I'll pass by the next 15 min utes, which were the most trying I've lived through so far in life, merely saying that the man was internally injured and couldn't survive.
 Would you like to see a minister, Jamie?" his wife asked, softly, after a while.
 'Lassie," he replied-and the way he said it reminded me of the lan- guage in a Scotch home at the time when I was a lad-"Lassie, I've no right"
 "Why?" she asked. in surprise.
 Because I've been worshipping you and our little home instead of God, and what right have I to a min ister's time? I haven't given a dol lar in the year to keep church alive, nor have I given the support of my presence at service half a dozen times"
 I could see she was startled. A scared look came into her eyes, as if she had suddenly been put outside the place where hope was l couldn't t stand it.
 "Pshaw. man," said, "there isn't decent minister in the city who wouldn't come and see you. Let me go for one"
 "NG, perhaps not," he answered to the first part of my protest, noting the look on his wife's face. "They go to the heather abroad and some body else pays tie expenses, SC may be one will come to a heather a home. For Jenn:e's Sake, Mac, you may go.'
 There was a parsonage a couple Of blocks away and I ran across to it The family was at dinner but the minister came to me at once. told him what I wanted, apologizing for the Interruption.
 No apology needed,' re responded almost brusGuely. When think more of being disturbed at dinner than of talking to a person in dis tress of mind I'll go into some other calling"
 The way that man eased off the tension in this house of grief was marvel. Waving aside all DoDald- sons talk of past neglect, he declared that all the good there was in recog- nizing a wrong lay in making 1t the basis for genuine repentance. God was ready to wipe out the past and provide for the future as soon as a man came to Him in the right spirit, and he explained how to io this so that a sick man could Ge. hold of it.
 When I went over home l forgot to clip tine lawn for thinking new it would be with ne if J were in Don- aldson's case. l sat on tie veranda and looked rver the situation. He was no | ly, but in his weakness ne did need heartening. l don't think I m much more afraid to die than else, but if 1 had to face it ail al once wculdn't ueai a lit,ie help from some one who knew about such things-especially when l be- lieve in God, and the Bible, and all that9 Yet here's man who is up to the business really worth more than anything money could buy in a case of distress of spirit-practically a neighbor, too, and had never LuOuSuI IL Woi LII Whiio eo iu"Ae iA 
 We never think of asking him to join us and getting his opinion on a point. Men feel certain kind Of respect for him but it doesn't appear to he very hearty ana healthy kind. As nearly as I can get at my own state we treat attendance al church service in much the same way-we respect the act but don't want any more tn do with it than we can help.
 We'll, this was the way I kept on thinking, and by the time l went into the house I had made Up my mind to see how the minister would act all the way through; for Donaldson was sure to die, poor fellow, and his wife
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