The Washington herald., 1913-11-16
r. ADVENTURE OF THE FIFTH STREET CHURCH

church lot we moved the church up to
Fifth Street. and in bit Perkins got
enthusiastic over the idea, and moved
the rest OF the churches on his own
accord. He said 1t would be q great
"ad-"-a street OF churches: and 1t would
concentrate the ennobling religious atmos-
phere and make II more powerful.
All this time the lots continued to sell
beyond our expectations; and by the end
OF the year We had advanced the price
Of lots 100 per cent, and were considering
another advance. We did not think Il
fair to the sweItering Chicago public 10
advance the price without giving Il .
| chance TO get the advantage OF our fresh
air and pure water at the old. price. %
We told them OF the contemplated rise.
We let them know II by means OF bill
boards and magazines: and q great many
people gladly availed themselves OF our
thoughtfulness and our guarantee that
We would advance the price % per cent
on the first day OF June.
So many. IN fact. bought lots before
the advance that we had none left to
advance. Perkins came to me one morn
ing, with tears In his eyes. and explained
, that we had made a promise and could
not keep Il. We had agreed to advance
the lots 20 per cent. and we had nothing
to advance.
well, Perky" 1 said. "it Is no use
crying. What is done is done Are you
sure there are no lots leftT'
William" he said seriously. I'VE think
great deal or these churches, don't
wey'
"Yesr' / exclaimed. 1--WE dol We think
an ennobling religious atmosphere"
But he cut me short
I'll ha knnvv
we are doing? We talk about our en-
nobIing religious atmosphere. but we are
standing in the path OF progress A
mighty wave of reform Is sweeping
through Christendom. The new religious
atmosphere Is sweeping out the old re-
ligious atmosphere. I can feel 1t.
Brotherly- love is knocking out the sects.
Shall Cloverdale cling to the old. or shall
1t stand as the leader In the movement
for a reunited church,"
clasped Perkins hand.
"A tabernacIe1' / cried.
Right" exclaimed Perkins why
ten conflicting churches? Why not one
grand meeting place-an faiths-no
creeds? Bring the people closed together
spread an ennobling religious atmosphere
that is worth talking aboutT'
Perkins" said, what you have done
for religion will not be forgotten
ne WdNcu pTdiSc away
'I have buyers" he said. for the nine
church lots at the advanced price"
Considering that the land practically
cost us nothing, we made Sl06.00o on the
Cloverdale deal Perkins and 1 were out
that way lately: and there Is still nothing
on the land but the clubhouse. which
needs paint and new glass in the win
dows When we reached the fifth Street
Church, We paused, and Perkins took on
his hat 1t was a noble instinct. for
here was one church that never quarreled
with its pastor. to which all creeds were
welcome. and that had no mortgage
Some of these days" said Perkins,
I'VE will build the tabernacle. We will
come cut and carry on our great work
OF uniting the sects- We will build a
city here. surrounded by an ennobling
religious atmospheric refined, exclusive
city. The time is almost ripe. By the
time these lot holders pay another tax
assessment they will be sick enough. We
can get the lots for almost nothing"