The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-25

while? Mrs. Brown is very sick. The
doctor seems to think there must be
an operation. / know she would be
glad to see YOU"
Fifteen minutes later when I ar
rived at their home Brown opened
the door and as Il gripped his hand
my heart went out in great sympathy
to him. The anxiety which he felt
was clearly written on his face. We
did not talk much for the few min
utes before the nurse came down and
told us we might go upstairs. We
prayed together. i knew that the
sweet, trustful faith Of his wife sought
strength for him even as she was and
ing 1t for herself. 1t seemed most
natural indeed to thank God for the
peace he manifested even in the midst
of pain. stayed with him little
| longer downstairs in the library while
last with such word Of encouragement
as could be offered.
The next day was the operation.
Human skill did all that was possible,
but 1t did not avail. 1t was the
thought of his wife's beautiful faith
in that Unseen Presence che had
trusted so simply which stayed him
in the hard days he was called to
live through.
A week later I received "A letter
written New Years Eve. After its
opening sentences 1t read:
THE company have been more than
kind. 1t seems they had been con-
sidering a change in the general Of
| ficers and planned to offer the posi-
ton of secretary to me. They have
done this even earlier than they had
expected, so that l may come back
here to our old home and have my
L. d. l.,
rangement I could have expected.
But you know 1t is not an idle word
when say am deeply sorry to leave
the church and the good friends ! had
made there. 1t will he forever assoc
ciated with our last happy year. to-
gether.
And I want you to know, my
friend. that ! see with absolute
clearness now what / had begun to
appreciate a little. What would I not
give to have again and to use differ
emily those years when I failed in my
part' Thank God, my wife was too
strong and good and true TOR my lazy
| indifference to check her devotion
But 1 could have made her so much
happier by doing my share like man.
in the years that God has for me
here. ! promise to help in keeping
the faith. Just so far as Is possible
I will save every man ! can influence
from the regrets for years Of neglect
which / must ever feel. but which
shall do my best to atone for now"
Well" said ]. 'let me take up
your last point first You don't like
the constant asking for money. 1t is
not pleasant. but suppose we call it
an evil for a minute. Is 1t as great
an evil as letting some good thing
suffer when we might relieve the
need? Again. take the case OF the
fellow who thinks he Is the greatest
sufferer from nagging. Let him add
up all he gives In response TO what
he calls the many extra appeals. Then
let him add UP what he spends for
the theater. dinners. cigars and
from him pretty regularly. Would not
the excess in the second column in
all honesty make the first sum seem
small enough?
But after ALL" continued, for .
felt had a chance to say what had
Hong been on my mind. this whole
thing goes back to the way a man
looks at the church. You think 1t is
a useful institution on the whole. You
would be sorry to see it 60 out of
business. II went to you and told
you that / needed even consider
able sum Of money to prevent the
necessity Of closing up our church
and that you were the last resource,
l am quite sure you would give to
the full extent Of your power. But
you don't see any need to stand by
regularly with your personal interest
and support. Yet IL men like you are
not responsible, who is? There are
few people who have q natural lik-
| ing for what we call church work
and who also have so much time they
can control that they can indulge
what we'will say Is their taste But
the number Of these people Is aston
ishsngly small. q Nineteen out OF every
| twenty who are regular supporters OF
the church are such at some sacrifice
OF other things. You are busy and
you are loaded with pretty heavy
duties. But every single officer of
our church is In the same position.
So my point la right here: Why should
they do their part and you do moth
ing? Why should they not take your
attitude? But If they did, that would
be the end Of the church"
well, there may be something in
that" he assented after little pause.
/ did not give him a chance to
speak further. for I was determined
to say one other thing / felt strongly.
But after all, the truth of what
I have been trying to state rests on
a deeper appeal than I have yet sug-
gested. The church does not exist
for itself. 1t is working for the king
dom of God; that is, for the things.
for the life everywhere which Jesus
Christ lived and died to establish. II
we think he was right in his teach
Ing about the spiritual life are we
not bound to keep the faith in that
life strong and vital, and does any
other organization help in this so d.
rectly as the church? How, then,
can any man leave 1t all for others to
do and feel justified? And finally, il