STo #
= l = o
< > *
* o
< t- : . :
t2v !
O *
Jt'O
: .r :
.
* X *
< 'to
By REV. CHARLES M. SHELDON , * o
Author of "In His Steps : What Would Jesus DoP" "Malcom < i ? :
JL. Kirk , " "Bobert Hardy's Seven Days , " Etc. c- *
co < r
o *
* o
0 *
1839. h/ ) The Advance PublMitw Gu. *
< > *
Philip Strong , with a smile and a sigh ,
took up his pen and wrote replies to
the calls he had received , refusing the
call to Elmdale and accepting the one
to Miltoa. And so the strange story of
a great haw/ted man really began.
When he had finished writing these
two letters , he "wrote another , which
throws so much light on his character
and his purpose in going to Milton that
we will insert that in this story -as be
ing necessary to its full understanding.
This is the letter :
My Dear Alfred Two years ago , when we left
the seminary , you remember we promised eacli
other in case cither of us left his present paribh
he would let the other know at once. I did not
suppose when I came that I should leave so soon ,
but I have just written a letter which means the
beginning of a new life to me. The Calvary
church in Milton has given me a call , and I have
accepted it Two months ago my church here
practically went out of existence through a union
with the oilier church on the street. The history
of that movement is too long for me to relate
here , but since 't ' took place I have been preach
ing as a supply , pending the final settlement of
"lam convinced thatl must go to Mil
ton. "
affairs , and so I was at liberty to accept a call
elsewhere. I must confess the call from Milton
was a surprise to me. I have never been there
( you know I do not believe in candidating for a
place ) , and so I suppose their church committee
came up here to listen to me. Two years ago
nothing would have induced me to go to Milton.
Today it seems perfectly clear that the Lord says
to me , "Go. " You know my natural inclination
is toward a quiet , scholarly pastorate. Well ,
Milton is , as you know , a noisy , dirty , manufac
turing town , full of workingmen , cursed with
taloons and black with coal smoke and umvashcJ
humanity. The church is quite strong in member
ship. The "Year Book" gives it 500 members last
year , and it is composed almost entirely of the
leading families in the place. What I can do in
euch a church remains to be seen. My prede
cessor there. Dr. Brown , was a profound sermon-
izcr and generally liked , I believe. He was a
man of the old school and made no attempt , I
understand , to bring the church into contact with
the masses. You will say that such a church is a
poor place in which to attempt a different work.
I do not necessarily think so. The church of
Christ is in itself , I belie\e , a powerful engine to
Bet in motion against all evil. I have great faith
in the membership of almost any church in this
country to accomplish wonderful things for hu
manity , and 1 am going to Milton with that
faith very strong in me. I feel as if a very great
work could be done there. Think of it , Alfred !
A town of 50,000 workingmen , half of them for
eigners : a town with more than CO saloons in full
blast , a town with seven churches of many differ
ent denominations all situated on one street and
that street the most fashionable in the place , a
town where the police records show an amount of
crime and depravity almost unparalleled in mu
nicipal annals surely such a place presents an
opportunity for the true church of Christ to do
some splendid work. I hope I do not overestimate
the needs of the place. I have known the general
condition of things in Milton ever since you and
I did our summer work in the neighboring town
of Clifton. If ever there was missionary ground
in America , it is there. I cannot understand just
why the call comes to me to go to a place and
take up work that In many ways is so distasteful
to me. In one sense I shrink from it with a sen-
si tiveness which no one except my wife and you
could understand. You know what an almost
ridiculous excess of sensibility I have. It seems
sometimes impossible for me to do the work that
the active ministry of this age demands of a
man.It almost kills me to know that I am criti
cised for all that I say and do. And yet I know
that the ministry will always be the target for
criticism. I have an almost morbid shrinking
from the thought that people do not like me ,
that I am not loved by everybody , and yet I
know that if I speak the truth in my preaching
and speak it without regard to consequences some
one is sure to become offended and in the end
dislike me. I think Cod never made a man with
to intense a craving for the love of his fellow
men as I possess , and yet I am conscious that I
cannot make myself understood by very many
people. They will always say. "How cold and un
approachable he is ! " when in reality I love them
with yearnings of heart. Now , then. I am going
to Milton with all this complex thought of my
self , and yet. dear chum , there is not the least
doubt after all that I ought to go. I hope that
in the rush of the work there I shall be able to
forget myself , and then the work will stand out
prominent as it ought. With all my doubts of
myself I never question the wisdom of entering
the ministry. I'have a Very positive assurance as
I work that 1 am doing what 1 ought to do. And
what can a man ask more ? I am not dissatisfied
with the ministry , only with my own action with
in it. It is the noblest of all professions. I feel
proud of it every day. Only it is so great that it
makes a man feel small when he steps inside.
Well , my wife is calling me down to tea. Let
me know what you do. Wo shall move to Milton
jiext week , probably ; so. if you write , direct
thereAs etcr. your old chum.
PHILIP STKOSO.
It was characteristic of Philip that
In this letter he said nothing about his
call to Elmdale and did not tell his col
lege chum what sala"ry was offered him
by the church at Milton. As a matter
of fact , he really forgot all about every
thing , except the one important event
of his decision to go to Milton. He re
garded it , and rightly so. as the most
serious step of his life , and while he
had apparently decided the matter very
quickly it was. in reality , the result of
a deep conviction that IK ought to go.
He was in the habit of making his de
cisions rapidly. This habit sometimes
led him into embarrassing mistakes
and once in a great while resulted In
humiliating reversals of opinion , so
that people who did not know him
thought he was fickle and changeable.
In the present case Philip acted with
his customary -ojilckness and knew
very well that his' action was unalter
able.
CHAPTER II.
Within a week Philip Strong had
moved to Milton , as the church wished
him to occupy the pulpit at once. The
parsonage was a well planned house
next the church , and his wife soon
made everything look very homelike.
The first Sunday evening after Philip
preached in Milton , for the first time ,
he chatted with his wife over the
events of the day as they sat before a
cheerful open fire in the large grate.
It was late In the-fall and the nights
were sharp nnd frosty.
"Are you tirvd tonight , Philip ? " ask
ed his wife.
"Yes , the day has been rather try-
Ing. Did you think I was nervous ?
Did I preacii well ? " Philip was not
vain in the least. He simply put the
question to satisfy his own exacting
demand on himself in preaching. And
there was not a person in the world to
whom he would have put such a ques
tion except his wife.
"No , I thought you did splendidly. 1
felt proud of you. You made some
queer gestures , and once you put one
of your hands in your pocket. But your
sermons were both strong and effect
ive. I am sure the people were im
pressed. It was very still at both serv
ices. "
Philip was silent a moment. And his
wife went on :
"I am sure we shall like it here ,
Philip. What do you think ? "
"I cannot tell yet. There is very
much to do. "
"How do you like the church build
ing ? "
"It is an easy audience room for my
voice. I don't like the arrangement of
the choir over the front door. I think
the choir ought to be down on the plat
form in front of the people , by the side
of the minister. "
"That's one of your hobbies , Philip.
But the singing was good , didn't you
think so ? "
"Yes , the choir is a good one. The
congregation didn't seem to sing much ,
imd I believe in congregational singing ,
even when there is a choir. But we
can bring that about in time , I think. "
"Now , Philip. " said his wife , in some
alarm , "you are not going to meddle
with the singing , are you ? It will get
you into trouble. There is a musical
committee in the church , and such com
mittees are very sensitive about any
interference. "
"Well , " said Philip , rousing up a lit
tle , "the singing is a very important
part of the service. And it seems to
me I ought to have something impor
tant to say about it. But you need not
fear , Sarah. I'm not going to try to
change everything all at once. "
His wife looked at him a little anx
iously. She had perfect faith in Phil
ip's honesty of purpose , but she some
times had a fear of his impetuous de
sire to reform the world. After a little
pause she spoke again , changing the
subject.
"What did you think of the congrega
tion , Philip ? "
"I enjoyed it. I thought it was very
attentive. There was a larger number
out this evening than I had expected. "
"Did you like the looks of the people
ple ? "
"They were all very nicely dressed. "
"Now , Philip , you know that isn't
what I mean. Did you like the peov
pie's faces ? "
"You know I like all sorts and condi
tions of men. "
"Yes , but there are audiences and au
diences. Do you think you will enjoy
preaching to this one in Calvary
church ? " !
"I think I shall , " replied Philip , but
he said it in a tone that might have
meant a great deal more. Again there
was silence and again the minister's
wife was the first to break it.
"There was a place in your sermon
tonight. Philip , where you appeared
the least bit embarrassed , as you seem
sometimes at home when you have
some writing or some newspaper ar
ticle on your mind and some one sud
denly interrupts you with a question a
good way from your thoughts. What
was the matter ? Did you forget a
point ? "
"No. I'll tell you. From where 1
stand on the pulpit platform I can see
through one of the windows over the
front door. There is a large electric
lamp burning outside , and the light fell
directly on the sidewalk across the
street. From time to time groups of
people went through that band of
light. Of course I could not see their
faces very well , but 1 soon found out
that they were mostly the young men
and women operatives of the mills.
They were out strolling through the
street , which. I am told. Is a favorite
promenade with them. I should think
as many as 200 passed by the church.
while I was preaching. Well , after
awhile I began to ask myself whether
there was any possible way of getting
those young people to come into the
church instead of strolling past ? And
then I looked at the people in front of
me and saw how different they were
from those outside and wondered if 't '
wouldn't be better to close up the
church and go and preach on the street
where the people are. And so. carry
ing on all that questioning with my
self. whik1 1 tried to preach , causing a
lltthi uuiliarrassim-n.t. ' as you kindly
If. lu tin * ttt-nnuu"
"I should think so ! Hut how do you
know. Philip , that thorn * people outside
were in any need of your preaching ? "
Philip 'appt'Jm'd surprised at the
question lit * looked at his wife , and
her face was serious.
"Why. doesn't cvor/body need
preaching ? They may not stand in
need of my preaching perhaps , but
they ought to have some preaching.
And I cannot help thinking of what Is
the duty of the church lu this place to
the great crowd outside. Something
ought to he done. "
"Philip. I am sure your work here
will be blessed. Don't you think so ? "
"I know It will. " replied Philip , with
tlie asMiiatice of a very positive but
spiritually minded man. He never
thought his Master was honored by
asking him for small things or doubtIng -
Ing the power of Christianity to do
great things.
And always when lie said "I" he
simply meant , not Philip Strong , but
Christ in Philip Strong. To deny tin-
power ami worth of that incarnation
was , to his mind , not humility , but
treason.
The Sunday following Philip made
this announcement to the people :
"Beginning with next Sunday morn
ing. I shall plvojlip first of a series of
monthly talks on -i.-si and Modern
Society. ' It will be my object in these
talks to suppose Christ himself as the
one speaking to modern society on its
sins , its needs , its opportunities , its
responsibilities , its everyday life. I
shall try to be entirely loving and just
and courageous in giving what I be
lieve Christ himself would give you if
he were the pastor of Calvaryrchurch
In Milton today. So , during the talks , I
wish you would , with me , try to see if
you think Christ would actually say
what I shall say in his place. If Christ
were in Milton today , I believe he
would speak to us about a good many
things in'Milton , and he would speak
very plainly , and in many cases he
might seem to be severe. But it would
be for our good. Of course I am but
human in my weakness. I shall make
mistakes. I shall probably say things
Christ would not say. But always go
ing to the source of all true help , tin-
spirit of truth , I shall , as best a man
may , speak as I truly believe Christ
would if lie were your pastor. These
talks will be given on the first Sunday
of every month. I cannot announce
the subjects , for they will be chosen
as the opportunities arise. "
During the week Philip spent several
hours of each day in learning the facts
concerning the town. One of the first
things lie did was to buy an accurate
map of the place. lie hung it up on
the wall of his study and in after days
found occaskvj to-make good use of it.
He spent afternoons walking over the
town. He noted with special interest
and earnestness the great brick mills
by the river , five enormous structures
with immense chimneys , out-of which
poured great volumes of smoke. Some
thing about the mills fascinated him.
They seemed like monsters of some
sort , grim , unfeeling , but terrible. As
one walked by them he seemed to feel
the throbbing of the hearts of five crea
tures. The unpainted tenements , ugly
in their unfailing similarity , affected
Philip with a sense of almost anger.
He had a keen and truthful taste in
matters of architecture , and those
boxes of houses offended every artistic
and homelike feeling in him. Coming
home one day past the tenements , he
found himself in an unknown street ,
and for the curiosity of it he undertook
to count the saloons on the street in
one block. There were over 12. There
was a policeman on the corner as Phil
ip reached the crossing , and he in
quired of the officer if he could tell him
who owned the property in the block
containing the saloons.
"I believe most of the houses belong
to Mr. Winter , sir. "
"Mr. William Winter ? " asked Philip.
"Yes , I think that's the name. lie is
the largest owner in the Ocean mill
yonder. "
Philip thanked the man and went on
toward home. "William Winter ! " he
exclaimed. "Is it possible that man
will accept a revenue from the renting
of his property to these vestibules of
hell ? That man ! One of the leading
members in my church ! Chairman of
the board of trustees and a leading citi
zen of the place ! It does not seem pos
sible ! "
But before the week was out Philip
had discovered facts that made his
heart burn with shame aud his mind
rouse with indignation. Property in
the town which was being used for sa
loons , gambling houses aud dens of
wickedness was owned in large part
by several of the most prominent mem
bers of his church. There was no
doubt of the fact. Philip , whose very
nature was frankness itself , resolved
to go to these men and have a plain
talk with them about it. It seemed to
him like a monstrous evil that a Chris
tian believer , a church member , should
be renting his property to these dens of
vice and taking the money. He called
on Mr. Winter , but he was out of town
and would not be back until Saturday
night. He went to see auother member
who was a large owner In one of the
mills and a heavy property owner. It
was uot a pleasant thing to do. but
Philip boldly stated the precise reason
for his call and asked his member if it
was true that he reified several houses
in a certain block where saloons and
gambling houses were numerous. The
man looked at Philip , turned red and
finally said it was a fact , but none of
Philip's business.
"My dear brother. " said Philip , with
a sad but winning smile , "you cannot
imagine what it costs me to come to
you about this matter. In one sense it
may seem to you like .an impertinent
meddling in your business In another
sense it is only what I ought to do as
pastor of a church which is dearer to
me than my life. 'And 1 have come to
you as a brother in Christ to ask you
If It seems to you like a thing which
CLrlst would aoorovi- that you , his
7r"7ile" . shouftr allow the property
which has come Into your hands that
you may use It for his glory and the
building up of his kingdom to be used
by the agents of the devil while you
reap the financial boucflt. Is It right ,
my brother ? "
The mnn to whom the question was
put rnml * the usual excuses , that if ho
did not tent' to these people other men
would , that there was no call for the
property by other parties nnd If It were
o -s
" Ls it riuliL mu brother ? "
nol'Tcnted to objectionable people
would lie empty at a dead loss , and so
forth. To all of which Philip opposed
the plain will of God , that all a man
has should be used in clean aud honest
ways , and he could never sanction the
getting of money through such im
moral channels. The man was finally
induced to acknowledge that it was not
just the right thing to do and especial
ly for a church member. But when
Philip pressed him to give up the whole
iniquitous revenue aud clear himself
of all connection with it the property
owner looked aghast.
"Why , Mr. Strong , do you know
what you ask ? Two-thirds of the most
regular part of my income is derived
from these rents. It is out of the ques
tion for me to give them up. You are
too nice in the matter. All the prop
erty owners in Milton do the same
thing. There isn't a man of any means
in the church who isn't deriving some
revenue from this source. Why. a large
part of your salary is paid from these
very rents. You will get into trouble
if you try to meddle iu this matter. I
don't take offense. I think you have
done your duty. And I confess it
doesn't seem exactly the thing. But.
as society is organized , I don't see that
we can change the matter. Better not
try to do anything about it , Mr. Strong.
The church likes you and will stand by
in giving you a handsome support , but
men are very touchy when their pri
vate business is meddled with. "
Philip sat listening to this speech ,
and his face grew whiter and he
clinched his hands tighter as the man
went on. When he had finished , Philip
spoke in a low voice :
"Mr. Bent ley. you do not know me
if you think any fear of the consequences
quences will prevent my speaking to
the members of my church on any mat
ter where it seems to me 1 ought to
speak. In this particular matter 1 be
lieve it is uot only my right but my
duty to speak. I would be shamed be
fore my Lord and Master if I did not
declare his will in regard to the uses of
property. This question passes over
from one of private business , with
which 1 have no right to meddle , into
the domain of public safety , where I
have a right to demand that places
which are fatal to the life and morals
of the young men and women of the
town shall uot be encouraged and al
lowed to subsist through the use of
property owned and controlled by men
of influence in the community and es
pecially by the members of Christ's
body. My brother , " Philip went on
after a painful pause , "before God. in
whose presence we shall stand at last ,
am I not right in my view of this mat
ter ? Would not Christ say to you just
what I am now saying ? "
Mr. Bentley shrugged his shoulders
and said something about uot trying to
mix up business and religion. Philip
sat looking at the man. reading him
through and through , his heart almost
bursting in him at the thought of what
a man would do for the sake of money.
At last he saw that he would gain
nothing by prolonging the argument ,
lie rose , and with the same sweet
frankness which characterized his
opening of the subject he said : "Broth
er , I wisli to tell you that it is my in
tention to speak of this matter next
Sunday in the first of my talks on
'Christ and Modern Society. ' I be
lieve it is something he would talk
about in public , and I will speak of it
as I think he would. "
"You must do your duty , of course ,
Mr. Strong. " replied Mr. Bentley. some
what coldly , and Philip went out. feel
ing as if he had grappled with his first
dragon in Milton and found him to be
a very ugly one and hard to kill. What
"
hurt him as much as the lack of spir
itual fineness of apprehension of evil
in his .church member was the knowl
edge that , as Mr. Beutley so coarsely
put it. his salary was largely paid out
of the rentals of those vile abodes. He
grew sick at heart as he dwelt upon
the disagreeable fact , and as he came
back to the parsonage aud went up to
his cozy study he groaned to think
that it was possible through the price
that men paid for souls.
"And this because society is as it is ! "
he exclaimed , as he buried his face in
his hands and leaned his elbows on his
desk , while his cheeks flushed and his
heart quivered at the thought of the
filth and vileness the money had seen
and heard which paid for the very
desk at which he wrote his sermons.
But Philip Strong was not one to
give wiy at the first feeling of seem
ing defeat. He did not too harshly
condemn his members. He wondered
at their lack of spiritual life : but. to
his credit be it said , he did uot harshly
condemn. Only , as. Sunday approach
ed , be grew more clear in his own mind
n his duty in the matter , Expe-
January
Ut n
Bar ams
are better than we have ever been
able to offer. Our stock of winter
goods is too large and must be re
duced.
Ladies' Jackets
Half Price.
We still have a good assortment of
Ladies' Jackets which we are selling
as advertised so % discount.
All $12.00 garments go at - - $6.00
All $10.00 garments go at - $5.00
All $ 5.00 garments go at - $2.50
I We also have a few Fur Capes good values at
J Greatly Reduced Prices.
9 Odd lots of Underwear at one = third off. It will
will pay you to call and supply your wants.
Try our
Grocery Department
Nowhere will you find prices flower.
THE . . . .
* * *
C. L. DeGROFF & CO.
NATIONAL
\ Authorized Capital , $100,000.
Capital and Surplus , $6O3OOO
OCO
GEO. HOCKNELL , President. B. M. FREES , V. Pros.
VI. F. LAWSOH , Cashier. F. A. PENNELL , Ass'i Cash.
A. CAMPBELL , Director. FRANK HARRIS , Director.
JC
Rex Rheumatic Cure I
w W
| .r is not a medicine or drug to be taken internally , neither - % ?
| | er is it a liniment for outward application , but an arf < ?
| tide to be worn and is made of certain metals that gfe
elj , draw the uric acid from the blood. It costs S2.CO and &
gi never wears Ollt. Written guarantee to refund money in 30 days
Jf if not entirely satisfactory. ItcureS Ehenmatism Acute H >
5 ? Chronic , Muscular and Sciatic , Lumbago and Gout. 9 ?
1 ? Send 2c stamp for little booklet that tells the whole
4 story- Address , HEX ItUEUMATIC CO. ,
Jffe Pox 14Harttord , Conn.
. .
SJJK * yc. * fgc a r age xyz sjyc xgc i i ags syf zyrzyc 3gr f f
Our General Catalogue quotes
them. Send 150 to partly pay
postage or expressage and we'll
send you one. It has nee pages ,
17,000 illustrations and quotes
prices on nearly 70,000 things
that you eat and u e and wear.
We constantly carry in stock all
articles quoted.
The Tallest Mercantile Building in the World. MONTGOMERY WARD & CO. ,
Owned and Occupied Exclusively By Us. r.i Madlton