The Washington times., 1920-12-11

ersDlB" ana many otocr NONe1
OF WORLDLY ioe Popularity.
A n old negro appeared, dressed
"A in a tailed coat. His
hair was as white as his
masters and his face creased with
age.
SAM" said Mr.. Bentley, ~ have
brought homo a gentleman for sup
per-"
''Yessah. Miisteh Ho'ace. was
jest agwine to open UP. de bins"
SAM" said Mr.. Bentley, after
supper, draw up the armchair for
Mr.. Holder beside the window. 1t
is cooler there"
. ~ ought TO CO." Holder said 81
ought TO see how the child is. Jar
Wis viii have been there by this
time, and there may be neces-
saries-
Jarvis will have attended to
that" Mr.. Bentley replied. ("Sit
down, Mr.. Holder. i am not sure
that, for the present, we have not
done all in this case that is hu-
manly possible"
I'VE have met at last in a sing
ular way" Mr.. Bentley remarked.
.in a way that has brushed aside
the conventions, in a way-l am
happy to say-that has enabled
you to give me your confidence.
And / am an old man-that has
made IT easier. / saw this after
noon, Mr.. Holder. that you were
troubled, although you tried to
hide It."
II knew that you saw it," Hold
der said.
"Nor was it difficult for me to
guess something of the cause of it.
The same thing has troubled me-"
"You?"
Yes" Mr.. Bentley answered.
left st. Johns, but the habits and
affections of lifetime are not
easily severed. And some time be-
fore l left 1t I began to have
visions of a future for il. There
was a question, many years ago,
as to whether a new st. Johns
should not be built in the West
End, on a site convenient to the
parishioners, and this removal l
opposed. Mr.. Waring stood by me.
eve foresaw the day when this
district would be-what it is now
the precarious refuge oil the UNI
fortunate in the battle Of life. or
just such unhappy families as the
Garvins, Of miserable women who
sell themselves to keep alive. 1
thought of St. Johns, as you did.
as an oasis ip a :. desert OF misery
and vice. At. that time ]. too, be-
lieved in the system of charities
which you have SO we'll character
lied as pauperizing."
And now?'
Mr.. Bentley smiled, as at
"Reminiscences.
my eyes were opened" he replied,
and in these simple words summed
up and condemned 1t all. THEY
are craving bread. and we fling them
stones. came here. 1t was a house
I owned, which / saved from the
wreck, and as / look back upon
what the world would call mis-
fortune, sir, I can see that 1t was
propitious event, for me. The street
ran DOWN as the saying goes.
grew gradually to know these peo-
pie. my new neighbors, largely
through their children, and I per-
ceived many things I had not
dreamed .of-before then. 1 saw
how the church was hampered. fet-
tered. saw why they disliked and
distrusted it."
~ "And yet you still believed that
IT had a mission Holder inter-
rupted.! He had been listening with
rapt attention.
A PREsENTIMENT.
Il still believed it," said Mr..
Bently. my conception of that mis-
sion changed. grew, and yet it
seemed further and further from
fulfilment. And then you came TO
ST. Johns"
~" The cry was involuntary.
You" Mr.. Bentley repeated.
Sometimes" he added whimsically,
81 go there, as have told you. I
saw you, / heard you preach.
talked to my friend Warning about
you. I saw that your eyes were not
opened. but / think l had a certain
presentment for which do not
pretend to account, that they would
be opened"
You mean" said the rector that
II I believe in the mission Of the
church as 1 have partially stated ii
here tonight, ! should stay and
light for it
Precisely Mr.. Bentley replied.
There was a note OF enthusiasm,
almost of militancy in the old gem
tleman's tone that surprised and
agitated Holder. He took turn
up and down the room before ne
answered.
II will be frank, Mr.. Bentley. and
confess to you that at present can
not see my way You have heard
me preach-you know what my be-
liefs have been. They are shat
tered.
And. while | feel that there is
some definite connection between
the view OF the church which [ mcu-
TONED and her message to the in
dividual. ! do not perceive ii clear
~. am not prepared AT present
10 be the advocate OF Christianity,
because do not know what
christianity is. ] thought | knew.
81 shall have To begin all over
again, as though | had never taken
orders, submit to u thorough test,
examine the evidence impartially.
n is the only way.
IL intend to stay here, how, with
out conducting any services, and
ind out for myself what the condi.
tions are here in Dalton street.
You know those people, AIR. Bent
icy, you understand them, and I
tm going to ask you to help me.
You have evidently solved the