The Washington times., 1920-11-09

/ feel IL myself most strongly. And
yet none OF these men are Socialists.
IL they were. they wouldn't come
here to the parish house"
LOOKING FOR LIGHT.
They're not Socialists" agreed
McCrae.
But there Is room In the back
and sides of the church. and their
Is the early service and the Sunday
night service, when the pews are
free. Why don't they come to
these?"
Religion doesn't appeal to them"
"Why not?''
we've asked me a riddle. All I
know Is that the minute ye begin 10
preach. on they 80 and never come
back
Holder. with unconscious nxity.
looked into his assistants honest
face. He had an exasperating no
tion that McCrae might have said
more. IL he would.
Haven't you a theory"
"Try yourself" said McCrae. His
manner was abrupt yet. oddly
enough. not ungracious.
Don't think I'm criticizing," said
the rector. quickly.
81 know we'll ye're not
I've been trying to learn. 1t
seems to me that we are only ac-
complishing half our task. and I
know that st. Johns Is not unique
in this respect. I've been talking
to Andrews, of Trinity. about their
poor"
"Does he give you / remedy"
mo" Holder said. "He' can't see
any more than can why Christian
ity doesn't appeal any longer. The
fathers and mothers of these people
went to church in the old country
and in this. OF course. he sees. as
you and / do. that society has set
tied into layers. and that the layers
won't mix. And he seems to agree
with me that there Is a good deal
of energy cxerted for a compare
lively small return"
II understand that's what Mr..
Parr says"
These references to Mr.. Parr dis
turbed Holder. He had sometimes
wondered, when he had been COM
PEELED to speak about his visits to
the financier, how McCrae regarded
them. He was sure that McCrae did
regard them.
Mr.. Parr is willing to be even
more generous than he has BEEN"
Holder said. The point Is,
whether it's wise to enlarge our
scope on the present plan. What
do you Think
THE ONLY CONCLUSION.
Eye can reach more" McCrae
spoke without enthusiasm.
whats the use Of reaching them,
only to touch them? In addition to
being helped materially and so
cially, and kept away from the
dance halls and saloons, they ought
to be fired by the gospels, to be
remade. They should be going out
into the highways and byways to
bring others into the church"
The Scotchman's face changed a
little. For an instant his eyes
lighted up, whether in sympathy
or confederation or both. Holder
could not tell.
I'm with we, Mr.. Holder. II yell
show me the way. But oughtn't We
to begin at both ends"
AT both ends?" Holder repeated.
Surely. With the people in the
pews? Oughtn't we to be firing
them, too?"
"Yes." said the rector. You're
right"
He turned away. to feel McCrae's
hand on his sleeve.
Maybe it will come, Mr.. Holder"
he said. There's no telling when
the light will strike in"
1t was the nearest to optimism
approach.
"McCrae." he asked, "have you
tried to do anything with Dalton
Street,"
Dalton Streetr'
The real McCrae. whom he had
seemed to see emerging, retired
abruptly, presenting his former
battling and non-committal exte-
rior.
YES" Holder forced himself to
go on, and It came to him that he
had repeated virtually the same
words to Mr.. Parr. 1T Is at our
very doors, a continual reproach.
There is real poverty in those
rooming houses, and I have never
seen vice so defiant and shame
less
IT'S shifty place. that" Nc
Crae replied. They're in 1t one
day and gone the next, a sort Of
catch basin for all the rubbish of
the city. I can recall when decent
people lived there. and now it's all
light housekeeping and dives and
what not"
A BAD VISION.
But that doesn't relieve us Of re-
sponsibility." Holder observed.
I'M not denying 1t. I think yell
find there's very little to get hold
Of"
Once more. he had the air Of
stopping short, of being able to
say more. Holder refrained from
pressing him.
Dalton street continued to haunt
him. And often at nightfall, as he
hurried back to his bright rooms
in the parish house from some Of
the many errands that absorbed his
time, he had a feeling of self-ac-
cusation as he avoided women
YEARLY treading the pavements, or
girls and children plodding home
ward through the wet. wintry
streets. Some glanced at him with
heavy eyes, others passed sullenly.
with bent heads./ At such mo-
ments his sense Of heipicssness
was overpowering. He could not
follow them to the dreary dwell