White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-01-17
pointed for the meeting1 Isn't the
rest Of the committee latef'

rest OF the COmmltt06 lateT'
"Well, az a matter Of fact, the rest
of the committee is not coming. Broth
er Dawes was called out of town on
business-late this afternoon, and
Brother Macklen Is in bed with IN
attack Of acute Indigestion. Not that
believe a word of 1t myself They
just backed out, that's ALL"
sis the meeting postponed. then?"
swell. no. You see, l was the chair
man anyhow. and can do as well
without the committee. Wen just
have It out by ourselves"
The girls rose quickly. "we'll run
upstairs IL you will excuse u.s." said
Miriam.
"No, don't co." said Joplin West
bury quickly, evidently not at all de-
string to be left alone with his gentle,
unseeing pastor. "You stay right
here. It's a family matter, as you
might say, and we'll just have 1t all
right out in the OPEN
Mr.. Tolliver sat very still, rigid
figure against the faded blue velvet
of the big chair, his head bent for
ward.
"You see, we had meeting Of the
official board Monday night"
"You didl Why. could have come
In for IT.
'Well, we just had 1t by ourselves.
In fact we've nad several. Well,
there's no use beating about the bush, -
continued the embarrassed official
.You see, Brother Tolliver, that while
all our people like you. and like your
work-like your whole family, In fact
still Well, you can see that a
blind man can't run a church--nOt
rightly-not a fine new church like
| this one Of ours Now that we've pul
| SO much money into this new church
we've got to get in the crowds to I'll
1t up, and help pay the expenses. And
a blind man"
Mr.. Tolliver did not move. Eyes,
Brother Weslbury. Go on" he said
| gently.
"Well, you see how It is. And
| since the Congregationallsts have
| started to hold meetings of their OWL
in the Odd Fellows hall, they've taken
about dozen Of our good payers. and
we've got to get in others to take theil
| places. Now you see how we're fixed
| We like you, hrst-rate, but we've go1
| to work for the church, first and last
Well, we waited, and hoped you would
get over it. We wrote to the doctors
and they say you've not got much
chance-not one in hundred. You're
all run down, and you need Ions
resl-maybe year. maybe two years
Ito build you up"
aBut perhaps an operation-it woul'
be expensive. but"
1--WE asked about the operation
They Just talked about that to cheel
you up. An operation wouldn't do an,
good. Your eyes are just plain worr
out. You'll all worn out-thats til.
straight of it."
II see"
swell, we talked 1t over with tn,
distric, superintendent, and he hadn'
word to say against you, Brother
nor any of US either for that matter
But you see how 1t Is. The new
church and all. So ne said le woul
fix 1t up at the conference this fall
and they'll retire you according to tn
books-I don't know just how 1t Is
but they pay you right along. and
it's all down in the Discipline An
you'll gel good long rest. and wei
get in some fresh young chap to dray
the crowds and ill up the ney
church,
"But-but it's father's--the ne.
church u.s." sasped Ginger. unable !.
endure the dead silence that hung g
blackly over the little group
Joplin Westbury turned on he
#sharply. evidently glad OF chanc
to switch the tide Of his talk fror
the stricken minister. mo, Ellen, It,
not your fathers church. It's not GU
church. IT'S Gods"
Ginger wilted suddenly. eyes," sh
assented. Eyes. OF course. wish W
could let God run It"
"Ellen," reproved her father gentl!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS