r
\
By Eev , OHAELES M , SHELDON ,
Author nf "In UUt KtcpK IHiat Would Sous
IM7" " .V l m A" r"Itnlicrt llardtfa
Seven Daw , " Etc.
ICopyrlsht , 1809 , \ > y The Advance Publlihlng Co. ]
"No. But by "whallest are nominal'
ChrlstiaiiB and church members tried
today ? Is not the church In America
and England a church in which the
scribes and pharlsecs , hypocrites , are
just as certainly found as they were
In the old Jewish church ? And would
not that element crucify Christ again
If he spoke as plainly now as then ? "
Again Philip looked out of the win
dow. Ills whole nature was shaken to
Us foundation.
"I have made mistakes. I have been
lacking In tact. I have needlessly of
fended the people , " he said to his wife ,
yielding almost for the first time to a
great fear and distrust of himself , for
the letter asking his resignation had
shaken him as once he thought impos
sible. "I have tried to preach and act
as Christ would , but I have failed to
Interpret him aright. Is it not so ,
Sarah ? "
Ills wife was reluctant to speak. But
her true heart made answer : "No , Phil
ip , you have interpreted him too faith
fully. You may have made mistakes.
All ministers do , but I honestly be
lieve you have preached as Christ
would preach against the great selfish
ness and hypocrisy of this century.
The same thing would have happened
to him. "
They talked a little longer , and then
Philip said :
"Let us go down and see the Brother
Man. Somehow I feel like talking to
him. "
So they went down stairs and into
the room where the invalid was sitting
with the old man. William was able
to walk about now and had been say
ing that he wanted to hear Philip
preach as soon as he could get to
church.
"Well , Brother Man , " said Philip ,
with something like his old heartiness
of manner , "have you heard the news ?
Othello's occupation's gone. "
The Brother Man seemed to know
all about It. Whether he had heard
of it through some of the church people
ple or not Mr. Strong did not know ,
lie looked at Mr. Strong calmly. There
was a loving sympathy In his voice ,
but no trace of compassion or won
der. Evidently-he had not been talk
ing of the subject to any one.
"I knew it would happen , " he said.
"You have offended the rulers. "
"What would you do , Brother Man ,
In my place ? Would you resign ? "
Philip thought back to the time when
the Brother Man had asked him why
he did not resign.
"Don't they ask you to ? "
"Yes. "
"Do you think it is tlie wish of the
whole church ? "
"No , there are some who want me to
stay. "
"How do you feel about it ? " The
Brother Man put the question almost
timidly. Philip replied without hesi
tation :
"There is only one thing for me to
do. It would be impossible for me to
remain after what has been done. "
The Brother Man nodded his head as
if in approval , no did not seem dis
turbed In the least , nis demeanor was
the most perfect expression of peace
that Philip ever saw.
"We shall have to leave this house ,
Brother Man , " said Sarah , feeling with
Philip that he did not grasp the mean
ing of the event.
"Yes , in the Father's house there
are many mansions , " replied the Broth
er Man. Then as Mr. and Mrs. Strong
sat there In the gathering gloom the
old man said suddenly , "Let us pray
together about it. "
He kneeled down and offered the
most remarkable prayer that they had
ever heard. It seemed to them that ,
however the old man's mind might be
affected , the part of him that touched
God in the communion of audible pray
er was absolutely free from any weak
ness or disease. It was a prayer that
laid its healing balm on the soul of
Philip and soothed his trouble into
peace. When the old man finished
Philip felt almost cheerful again. He
went out and helped his wife a few
minutes in some work about the kitch
en. And after supper he was just get
ting ready to go out to inquire after a
sick family near by when there was a
knock at the door.
It was a messenger boy with a tele
gram. Philip opened it almost me
chanically and , carrying it to the light ,
read :
Alfred died at 4 p. ra. Can you come ?
For a second he did not realize the
news. Then as it rushed upon him be
staggered and would have fallen if the
table had not been so close. A faint
ness and a pain seized him , and for a
minute he thought he was falling ,
Then he pulled himself together and
called his wife , who was in the kitch
en. She came in at once , noticing the
peculiar tone of his voice.
"Alfred is dead ! " He was saying
the words quietly as he held out the
telegram.
"Dead ! And you left him getting
better ! How dreadful ! "
"Do you think so ? He Is at rest. I
must go up there at once. They ex
pect me. " He still spoke quietly
stilling the tumult of his heart's an
guish for his wife's sake. This man
his old college chum , was very dear to
him. The news was terrible to him.
Nevertheless he "made his prepara
tions to go back to his friend's home.
It is what either would have done in
the event of the other's death. And so
he was gone from Milton until after
the funeral and did not return until
Saturday. In those three days of ab
sence Milton was stirred by events
that grew out of the action of the
church.
CHAPTER XXIV.
In the first place the minority In the
church held a meeting and voted to
ask Philip to remain , pledging him
their hearty support In all his plans
and methods. The evening paper , in
its report of this meeting , made the
most of the personal remarks that were
made and served up the whole affair in
sensational Items that were eagerly
read by every one In Milton.
But the most Important gathering of
Philip's friends was that of the mill
men. They met In the hall where he
had so often spoken , and , being crowd
ed out of that by the great numbers ,
they finally secured the use of the
courthouse. This was crowded with
an excited assembly , and in the course
of very many short speeches , In which
the action of the church was severely
condemned , a resolution was offered
and adopted asking Mr. Strong to re
main in Milton and organize an asso
ciation or something of a similar order
for the purpose of sociological study
and agitation , pledging whatever finan
cial support could bo obtained from
the working people. This also was
caught up and magnified in the paper ,
and the town was still roused to ex
citement by all these reports when
Philip returned home late Saturday
afternoon , almost reeling with exhaus
tion and his heart torn with the sepa
ration from his old chum.
However , he tried to conceal his wea
riness from Sarah and partly succeed
ed. After supper he went up to his
study to prepare for the Sunday. He
had fully made up his mind what he
would do , and he wanted to do it in a
manner that would cast no reproach
on his ministry , which he respected
with sensitive reverence.
He shut the door and began his prep
aration by walking up and down , as
liis custom was , thinking out the de
tails of the service , his sermon , the ex
act wording of certain phrases he
wished to make.
He had been walking thus back and
forth half a dozen times when he felt
the same acute pain in his side that
had seized him when he fainted in
church at the evening service. It pass
ed away , and he resumed his work ,
thinking it was only a passing disor
der. But before he could turn again
In his walk he felt a dizziness that
whirled everything in the room about
him. He clutched at a chair and was
conscious of having missed It , and
then he fell forward In such a way
that he lay partly on the couch and on
the floor and was unconscious.
How long he had been in this condi
tion he did not know when he came to
himself. He was thankful , when he
did recover sufficiently to crawl to his
feet and sit down on the couch , that
Sarah had not seen him. He managed
to get over to his desk and begin to
write something as he heard her com
ing up stairs. He did not intend to de
ceive her. His thought was that he
would not unnecessarily alarm her. He
was very tired. It did not need much
urging to persuade him to get to bed.
He awoke Sunday morning feeling
strangely calm and refreshed. The
morning prayer with the Brother Man
came like a benediction to them all.
Sarah , who had feared for him owing
to the severe strain he had been en
during , felt relieved as she saw how
he appeared. They all prepared to go
to church , the Brother Man and Wil
liam going out for the first time since
the attack.
We have mentioned Philip's custom
of coming into his pulpit from the little
room at the side door of the platform.
This morning he went in at the side
door of the church after parting with
Sarah and the others. He let Brother
Man and William go on ahead n. little ,
and then , drawing his wife to him , he
stooped and kissed her. He turned at
the top of the short flight of steps lead
ing up to the side entrance and saw
her still standing in the same place.
Then she went around from the little
court to the front of the church and
went in with the great crowd already
beginning to stream toward Calvary
church.
No one ever saw so many people in
Calvary church before. Men sat on
the platform and even in the deep
window seats. The spaces under the
large galleries by the walls were filled
mostly with men standing there. The
house was crowded long before the
hour of service. There were many
beating , excited hearts in that audi
ence. More than one member felt a
shame at the action which had been
taken and might have wished it recall
ed. With the great number of workingmen -
ingmen and young people in the church
there was only one feeling ; it was a
feeling of love for Philip and of sorrow
row for what had been done. The fact
that he had been away from the city ,
that be tad not talked over the mat
ter with any one ojving to his absence ,
the uncertainty as to how he would
receive the whole thing , what he
would say on this first Sunday after
the letter had been written this at
tracted a certain number of persons
who never go inside a church except
for some extraordinary occasion erin
in hopes of a sensation. So the audi
ence that memorable day had some
cruel people present , people who nar
rowly watch the faces of mourners at
funerals to see what ravages grief has
made on the countenance.
The organist played his prelude
through and was about to stop when
he saw from the glass that hung over
the keys that Mr. Strong had not yet
appeared. He began again at a cer
tain measure , repeating it , and played
very slowly. By this time the church
was entirely filled. There was an air
of expectant waiting as the organ
again ceased , and still Philip did not
come out. A great fear came over
Mrs. Strong. She had half risen from
her seat near the platform to go up
and open the study door when it open
ed , and Philip came out.
. Whatever his struggle had been in
that iitile room the closest observer
could not detect any trace of tears or
sorrow or shame or humiliation. He
was pale , but that was common ; other
wise his face wore a firm , noble , peace
ful look. As he gazed over the congre
gation It fell under the fascination of
his glances. The first words that lie
spoke In the service were strong and
clear.
He began to speak very quietly and
simply , as his fashion was , of the fact
that he had been asked to resign his
pastorate of Calvary church. He made
the statement clearly , with no halting
or hesitation or sentiment of tone or
gesture. Then , after saying that there
was only one course open to him under
the circumstances , he went on to speak ,
as he said he ought to speak. In defense
of his interpretation of Christ and his
teaching :
"Members of Calvary church , 1 call
you to bear witness today that I have
tried to preach to you Christ and him
crucified. I have doubtless made mis
takes ; we all make them. I have of
fended the rich men and property own
ers In Milton. I could not help it. 1
was obliged to do so in order to speak
as I tills moment solemnly believe my
Lord would speak. I have aroused op
position because I asked men into the
church and upon this platform who do
not call themselves Christians , for the
purpose of knowing their reasons for
antagonism to the church we love. But
the time has come , O my brothers ,
when the church must welcome to its
councils in these matters that affect
the world's greatest good all men who
have at heart the fulfillment of the
Christ's teachings.
"But the cause which more than any
other has led to the action of this
church has been , I am fully aware , my
demand that the church members of
this city should leave their possessions
and go and live with the poor , wretch
ed , sinful , hopeless people in the lower
town , sharing In wise ways with them
of the good things of the world. But
why do I speak of all this in defense of
my actipn or my preaching ? "
Suddenly Philip seemed to feel a re
vulsion of attitude toward the whole
of what he had been saying. It was as
if there had instantly swept over him
the knowledge that he could never
make the people before him under
stand either his motive or his Christ.
His speech so far had been quiet , un-
irapassioned , deliberate. His whole
manner now underwent a swift
change. People in the galleries notic
ed it , and men leaned out far over the
railing , and more than one closed his
hands tight in emotion at the sight and
hearing of the tall figure on the plat
form.
"Yes , " he said , "I love you , people
of Milton , beloved members of this
church. I would have opened my arms
to every child of humanity here and
shown him , If I could , the boundless
love of his Heavenly Father. But , oh.
ye would not ! And yet the love of
Christ ! What a wonderful thing it is !
How mucli he wished us to enjoy of
peace and hope and fellowship and
service ! Yes , service that is what the
world needs today ; service that is will
ing to give all all to him who gave all
to save us ! O Christ , Master , teach us
to do thy will ! Make us servants to
the poor and sinful and hopeless. Make
thy church on earth more like thy
self. "
Those nearest Philip saw him sud
denly raise his handkerchief to his
lips , and then , when he took it away ,
it was stained with blood. But the
people did not see that. And then , and
then a remarkable thing took place.
On the rear wall of Calvary church
there had been painted , when the
church was built , a Latin cross. This
cross had been the source of almost
endless dispute among the church
members. Some said it was inartistic ;
others said it was in keeping with the
name of the church and had a right
place there as part of its inner adorn
ment. Once the dispute had grown so
large and serious that the church had
voted as to its removal or retention on
the wall. A small majority had voted
to leave it there , and there it remained.
It was perfectly white , on a panel of
thin wood , and stood out very conspicu
ously above the rear of the platform.
It was not directly behind the desk ,
but several feet at one side.
Philip had never made any allusion
in his sermons to this feature of Calva
ry church's architecture. People had
wondered sometimes that with his im
aginative , poetical temperament he
never had done so , especially once
when a sermon on the crucifixion had
thrilled the people wonderfully. It
might have been his extreme sensitive
ness , his shrinking from anything like
cheap sensation.
But now he stepped back it was not
far and turning partly around , with
one long arm extended toward the
cross as if in imagination he saw the
Christ upon it , he exclaimed , " 'Behold
the lamb of God that taketh away the
sin of the world ! ' Yes ,
"In the cross of Christ I glory.
Towering o'er the wrecks of time ;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round"
His voice suddenly ceased , he threw
his arms up , and as he turned a little
forward toward the congregation he
was seen to reel and stagger back
against the wall. For one intense , tre
mendous second of time he stood there
with the whole church smitten into a
pitying , horrified , startled , motioules
crowd of blanched , staring faces as his
tall , dark figure towered up with out
stretched arms , almost covering the
very outlines of the cross , and then he
sank down at its foot.
A groan went up from the audience.
Several men sprang up the platform
steps. Mrs. Strong was the first per
son to reach her husband. Two or
three liftlnod to bearJiim to the front
the platform. Sarah kneeled down by
him. She put her head against his
breast. Then she raised her face and
said calmly. "He Is dead. "
The.Brother..Man was kneeling , on
" 9
His tall , darhfirjurc toiucrcd up with out
stretched arms.
tne oTner 5i'ie. ' "KG , " no sala. wun an
indescribable gesture and untranslata
ble inflection , "he is not dead. lie is
living in the eternal mansions of glory
with his Lord. "
But the news was borne from lip to
lip , "He is dead ! " And that is the
way men speak of the body. And they
were right. The body of Philip was
dead. And the Brother Man was right
also , for Philip himself was alive in
glory , and as they bore the tabernacle
of his flesh out of Calvary church that
day that was all they bore. His soul
was out of the reach of humanity's
selfishness and humanity's sorrow.
They said that when the funeral of
Philip Strong's body was held in Mil
ton rugged , unfeeling men were seen
to cry like children in the streets. A
great procession , largely made up of
the poor and sinful , followed him to
his wintry grave. They lingered long
about the spot. Finally every one
withdrew except Sarah , who refused
to be led away by her friends , and Wil
liam and the Brother Man. They
stood looking down into the grave.
"He was very young to die so soon. "
at last Sarali said , with a calmness
that was more terrible than bursts of
grief.
"So was Christ , " replied Brother
Man simply.
"But , oh , Philip , Philip , my beloved ,
they killed him ! " she cried. And at
last , for she had not wept yet , great
tears rolled down into the grave , and
uncontrollable anguish seized her.
Brother Man did not attempt to con
sole or interrupt. He knew she was
in the arms of God. After a long time
he said : "Yes. they crucified him. But
he is with his Lord now. Let us be
glad for him. Let us leave him with
the Eternal Peace. "
When the snow had melted from the
hillside and the first arbutus was be
ginning to bud and even blossom , one
day some men came out to the grave
and put up a plain stone at the head.
After the men had done this work they
went away. One of them lingered. He
was the wealthy mill owner. He stood
with his hat in his hand and his head
bent down , his eyes resting on the
words carved into the stone. They were
these :
PHILIP STRONG.
Pastor of Calvary Church.
In the cross of Christ I glory ,
Towering o'er the wrecks of time ;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round
Mr. Winter looked at the incomplete
iine , and then , as he turned away and
walked slowly back down into Milton ,
he said : "Yes , it is better so. We must
finish the rest for him. "
Ah , Philip Strong ! The sacrifice was
not in vain ! The resurrection is not far
from the crucifixion.
* * * * * * *
Near to its close rolls up the century ,
And still the church of Christ upon the earth
Which marks the Christmas of his lowly birth
Contains the selfish scribe and Pharisee.
O Christ of God , exchanging gain for loss ,
Would men still nail thce to the selfsame cross ?
It is the Christendom of time , and still
Wealth and the love of it hold potent sway ;
The heart of man is stubborn to obey ,
The church has yet to do the Master's will.
O Christ of God , we bow our souls to thee ;
Hasten the dawning of thy church to be way !
THE END.
CLEVER , BUT SOULLESS.
One "Woman's Xevr "Way In "Wlilcli to
Pay Social Debt * .
"I don't know much of tV ; ways of
fashionable people , " said : vuung phy
sician not long ago , "for Irani not in
society , but if many society women are
like one I kuow here in town I think
I'm safer to be out of it. It was not
this season , but it wasn't so long ago
but that plenty of people can remem
ber the circumstances. I had among
my patients an elderly woman who
lived with the daughter's family. The
daughter lived , if not beyond her
means , at least up to the very edge ,
went out a great deal and was enter
tained a great deal.
"The mother fell sick with a com
plaint which I knew would prove fatal.
I did not inform the family till one
day the daughter asked me to tell her
frankly what her mother's condition
was and just how long she could live.
I told her that the old lady could not
possibly last more than a fortnight.
She begged me not to let anybody
know how serious the case was. She
didn't want her young daughters dis
tressed , she said.
"Of course I told nobody , and just a
week after that I read in the papers
that Mrs. Dash , the daughter of my dy
ing patient , had sent out Invitations
for a large dancing party , to be given
on an evening a fortnight away. My
patient did not live as long as I had
expected. The day after she died I
read in the papers that 'owing to the
sudden death"of her mother Mrs. Dash
had been compelled to recall her invi
tations. '
"She had never intended to give a
ball. She could not have afforded it ,
and she 'bluffed. ' I have cold shivers
every time I see her. " Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
M/ % * / * * - < * //vtf/'ft
? n in
( lOod-Joye
. .
* S * * * ASWW * * * W N < WS V > * 0 > < > i < > W \ KS . > X
VNII * < * < WV V V < VVN > V * > > W * < V > > * \ 'VV < V' ' ' ' ' * V'
Summer Stuff
Wash Dress Goods
Ladies' Shirt Waists
Ladies' Summer Corsets
Ladies' Summer Underwear
Etc. Etc.
will not last long at the prices at which we are
now offering them
SPECIAL BARGAINS
in Men's Neckwear
Men's Linen Shirts
Hen's Straw Hats
.Don't forget that our stock
of groceries is up-to-date
and our prices the lowest .
THE . . . .
Gusli
am
G. L. DeGROFF & CO.
C/fe/W % <
- z
5 6 NA/TIONA.L
Authorized Capital , $100,000.
Capital and Surplus , $60,000
\ GEO. HOCKNELL , President. B. IS. FREES , V. Pros.
VF. . LAWSON , Cashier. F. A. PENNELL , Ass't Cash.
A. CAMPBELL , Director. FRANK HARRIS , Director.
Was It a Miracle ?
"The marvelous cure of Mrs. Rena J. Stout
of consumption has created intense excite
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a leading druggist of Muncie , Ind. She only
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DeWitt's Little Early Risers are famous
little pills for liver and bowel troubles. They
never gripe. D. W. Loar.
In Madagascar the men do all the praying.
In America they do all the swearing.
A Good Cough Medicine
Many thousands have been restored to
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throat or lung trouble , give it a trial for it is
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that the climate of famous health resorts
failed to benefit , have been permanently cured
by its use. For sale by McConnell & Berry.
Don't
taking Scott's Emulsion because - $
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Keep taking it until you are
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It will heal your lungs and
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liver oil made easy.
SOc. and $ I. AH druggists.
Tribune Clubbing List.
For convenience ot readers of THE TKIB
UNE , we have made arrangements with he
following newspapers and perodicals whereby
we can supply them in combination with 'I JIK
TRIBUNE at the following very low prices :
PUBLICATION. PRICE.
Detroit Free Press . Si 00 $1 50
Leslie's Weekly . 400 300
Prairie Farmer . i oo 75
Chicago Inter-Ocean . i oo 35
Cincinnati Enquirer. . I 00 50
New- York Tribune. . I GO 25
Demorest's Magazine . I oo 75
Toledo Blade . i co 25
Nebraska Farmer . ice 50
Iowa _ Homestead . I oo 45
Lincoln Journal . I CO 75
Campbell's Soil-Culture . I CO 50
New- York World . I CO 65
OmahaBee . i oo I 30
Cosmopolitan Magazine . ICO ISO
St. Louis Republic . i oo 175
Kansas City Star . 25 115
Nebraska Dairyman and L'p-
to-Date Farmer . 50 125
Kansas City Journal , weekly. 25 115
Kansas City Journal , daily. . . 4 CO 4 20
\ \ e are prepared to fill orders for any other
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THE TRIBUNE , McCook , Neb.
To Cure La Grippe In Two Days.
Take Laxative Bromo-Quinine Tablets.
All druggists refund the money if it fails to
cure. E. W. Grove's name on every bottle.
250. 4-1-
Mme. Patti is to visit America "unprofes-
sionally" in a short time. The fat , fair and
forty for more ) diva seems to think we will
need all our money this year for campaign
purposes.
A gentleman recently cured of dyspepsia
gave the following appropriate rendering
of Burn's famous blessing : "Some have meat
and cannot eat , and some have none that want
it , but we have meat and we can eat Kodol
Dyspepsia cure be thanked. * ' This prepara
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