The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-31

the children. occasionally, to Pres
byterian church near U.S."
And why did you go thenv" she
asked.
~ am a little ashamed of my
motive" he confessed. There were
rumors-I don't pretend to know
how they got about" He hesi-
tated. once more aware OF delicate
ground. wallis Plimpton said
something to a man who told me.
believe i went out OF sheer curiosity
to hear what Holder would have to
say. And then, had been reading.
wondering whether there were any
thing in Christianity. after all"
"Yes?" she said. careless now as
to what cause he might attribute
her eagerness. And he gave you
somethingT
1t was then she grasped the truth
that this sudden renewed intimacy
was the result OF the impression
Holder had left upon the minds Of
both.
A FREE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
y HE gave me everything" Bedloe
Hubbell replied. ~ am willing to
acknowledge 1t freely. In his ex-
PLANTATION Of the parable of the
prodigal son, he gave me the clue
to our modern times. What was
for me an ihextricable puzzle has
become as clear as day. He has
made me understand. at last, the
force which stirred me. which goad-
ed me until I was fairly compelled
to embark in the movement which
the majority Of our citizens still
continue to regard as quixotic.
81 did not Identify that force with
religion then, and when / looked
back on the first crazy campaign
we embarked upon, with the whole
city laughing at me and at the OBJ
scure and impracticable personnel
we had. there were moments when
il seemed incomprehensible folly.
II had nothing to gain and
everything to lose by such ad-
venture. I was lazy and easy
going, as you know. l belonged
to the privileged class. had
sufficient money to live in COM
parative luxury all my days. l had
no grudge against these men
whom / had known all my life"
"But it must have had some be-
ginning" said Alison.
81 was urged to run for the
city council, by these very men,"
Bedloe Hubbell smiled at the recol-
lection. "They accuse me now Of
having INDUCED once in the same
practice, for which ! am condemn
ing them. Our company did ac-
cept rebates, and we sought IA
vors from the city government
II have confessed 1t freely on
the platform. Even during my
first few months in the council
he oll
practices seemed natural to me. But
gradually the iniquity of it all be-
gan to dawn on me, and then ]
couldn't rest until had done
something toward stopping It.
AT length I began to see," he
continued, that education Of the
masses was to be our only pre-
server, that we should have to sink
or swim by that. 1 began to see.
dimly. that this was true for other
movements going on today. Now
comes Holder with what I sincerely
believe is the key. He compels
men like me to recognize that our
movements are not merely moral
but religious.
Religion, as yet unidentified. is
the force behind these portentous
STRINGS Of politics in our country,
from sea to sea. He aims, not to
bring the church into politics, but
to make her the feeder of these
movements. Men join them today
from all motives, but the religious
Is the only one to which they may
safely be trusted. He has rescued
the jewel from the dust heap of ira
dition. and holds it up, shining, be-
fore our eyes,"
That" she said, "is a very beau
tiful phrase"
Bedloe Hubbell smiled queerly.
II don't know why I'm telling
you all this. 1 can't usually talk
about it. But the sight of that con-
gregation this morning, mixed as 1t
was, and the way he managed to
"Ah, you noticed thatw she ex-
claimed sharply.
Noticed it,"
II know. 1t was a question of
feeling it."
. There was a silence.
Twill he succeed?" she asked
presently.
"Ah," said Bedloe Hubbell, "how
is 1t possible to predict it? The
forces against him are tremendous,
and 1t is usually the pioneer who
suffers. l agree absolutely with his
definition of faith, I have 1T. And
the work he has done already can
never be undone.
1.-THE time is ripe, and 1t is some
thing that he has men like Phil
Goodrich behind him, and Mr..
Waring. I'm going to enlist. and
from now on intend to get every
man and woman upon whom I have
any influence whatever to go to
that church. :"
A little later Allison, marveling.
left him.