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 " ' Men .... listen to me.' " 
 ne Cmciftxion of PhiUip Strong.] 
 
 [Page 87 
 
The Crucifixion of Phillip 
 Strong. 
 
 By Charles M. Sheldon, 
 
 Author of " In His Steps," " 0^ ercoming the World," " His 
 
 Brother's Keeper," "Robert Hardy's Seven Days," 
 
 "Richard Bruce," "The Twentieth Door," 
 
 " The Redemption of Freetown." 
 
 puBLisHco av 
 
 THE POOLE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 
 TORONTO, ONT. 
 
 A.i 
 
u 
 
 ?!-. 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 To "The Crucifixion of Phillip Strong." 
 
 There are men who in the pulpit ^project and glorify 
 ideals whose dreams of the nobler life melt into fine mist 
 and disappear because no force of purpose put them into 
 action. Preachers often see visions in the §tudy and dis- 
 play them in the Sanctuary, that nobody else ever sees 
 except in their sermons. The power to idealize and to 
 awaken ideals in others is the first movement towards high 
 art in living as in painting, in building a character as in 
 building a cathedral. But it is only the first movement, 
 and without sequel of resolve and service it is valueless. 
 " Our grand business undoubtedly is," says Thomas Car- 
 lyle, "not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do 
 what lies clearly at hand." And it is also undoubtedly 
 true that as one does what he sees " clearly at hand " the 
 distant visions lose their dimness and vagueness, and be- 
 come a pi.n of the immediate horizon. He that " doeth " 
 shall "know." He that "walketh uprightly" and who 
 " shutteth his eyes from seeing evil " will soon " see the 
 King in his beauty and behold the land that.is very far oflF." 
 Dreaming must be transmuted into doing. 
 
 The demand of the pulpit in our age is the power to 
 set forth by words well-chosen and by attractive parables 
 which give truth in concrete form, the possibilities of in- 
 dividual and social life. But well-chosen words and illu- 
 minating parables must find a still more concrete interpre- 
 tation in the quality and the deed of the preacher and of 
 the people — the church which he represents. 
 
 When I read "The Crucifixion of Phillip Strong" in 
 its first edition I scarcely knew the author; but I felt that 
 s dreamef had seen tnore than a shadow, aad i wondered 
 
of what stuff he himself was made. The story, it seemed 
 to me, was born in a soul impressed with, and sometimes 
 
 dTvinH V"' "'"^^ °^ ''''■ '^'^^ earnestness oT: 
 divine conviction seemed to run like a fire along every line 
 
 I at once wrote to the author concerning the book "It 
 ChrJ,r ,1 "^ ^ '^'''"^ '"'^ "^^'^^'^^ contribution to the 
 read T"'""'' °^ '^'' '^'- ^^^^ minister ought to 
 
 rnt;*r:'drr;r^ '''-" ^^^ ^*°^ ^^ -* ^^-^ ^'^^ 
 
 A later and almost intimate acquaintance with my fel- 
 low-townsman has confirmed my ' interpretation of the 
 
 TuXh /'t™'^ 'Tf "^^ ^^"°-' ^'^o" °o «" 
 
 out what Jesus would^.do if He lived in our age"- his 
 fidelity as a pastor, a preacher and a reformerThi; ac 
 ^.ty;and aggressiveness on week-days as on SimdaJ^- 
 h wise and winning way of preaching the Gospel through 
 his stories, which he reads by chapters a, sermons to his 
 Sunday evening congregations; his kindergarten work in 
 his own church, and in another part of the town am^ng the 
 little uegroes; the impression made by his own spiritual 
 and earnest personality-all prepare me to read what he 
 writes with the conviction ever present ihat the hand that 
 wntes these things is moved by a heart to whom these 
 WJings are living verities. And I find it easy to say as Dr. 
 Wilkmson ,n his "Epic of Paul." makes Rachel. Paul's 
 
 "Oh. brother, when such things thdu sayest. 
 I tremble with unspeakable desire 
 To be what thou must be to think such things." 
 
 John H. Vincent. 
 
 IT, 
 
 ■scopal Residence. Topeka. Kans.. Fehruarv t««b" ' • 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION 
 
 OF 
 
 PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 to do""^ ^*'"°"*^ *'°"^'* "°* **"'^« what it was best 
 
 The postman that evening had brought him two letters 
 
 and he had just finished reading them. He sat with his 
 
 hands clasped over his knee, leaning back in his chair and 
 
 ooking out through his study window. He was evidently 
 thmkmg very hard, and the two letters were the cause of 
 his perplexity. 
 
 Finally he rose, went to his study door and called down 
 the stairs, " Sarah, I wish you would come up here I 
 want your Jielp.'? h, c- * 
 
 "All right, Phillip, I'll be up in a minute." responded 
 a voice from below, and very soon the minister's wife 
 came up-stairs into her husband's study. 
 
 "What's the matter, Phillip ?" she said, as she came - 
 mto the room. "It must be something very serious, for 
 you don t call me up here unless you are in great distress. 
 You remember the last time you called me, you had shut 
 the tassel of your dressing-gown under the Hd of your 
 
 writmg desk and I h»A fA ,.„♦ , — i -.r. . •^, 
 
 — — j.,„ .•u'usc. I uu aren't !&«( 
 
 anywhere now. are you V 
 
 
8 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 Phillip smiled quaintly. " Yes, I am. I'm in a strait 
 betwixt two. Let me read these letters and you will see." 
 So he began at once, and we will copy the letters, omitting 
 dates. 
 
 " Milton, Calvary Church. 
 
 " Rev. Phillip Strong. 
 
 "Dear Sir,— At a meeting of the Milton Calvary Church 
 held last week, it was voted unanimously to extend to you 
 a call to become pastor of this church at a salary of two 
 thousand dollars a year. We trust that you will find it in 
 accordance with the will of the Head of the Church that 
 you accept this decisiQfi on the part of Calvary Church 
 and become its pastor. The church is in good condition, 
 and has tne hearty support of most of the leading families 
 in the town. Both in membership and financially it is the 
 strongest of the prit -ipal churches here. We wait your 
 reply, confidently hoping you will decide to come to us. 
 We have been without a settled pastor now for nearly a 
 year, since the death of Dr. B., and we have united upon 
 you as the person most eminently fitted to fill the pulpit 
 of Calvary Church. The grace of our Lord be with you. 
 In behalf of the Church, 
 
 "WiLUAM Winter, 
 • " Chairman of the Board of Trustees." 
 
 " What do you think of that, Sarah ?" asked Phillip 
 Strong, as he finished the letter. 
 
 " Two thousand dollars is twice as much as you are 
 getting now, Phi.iip." 
 
 " What, you mercenary little creature, do you think of 
 the salary first ?" 
 
 " If I did not think of it once in a while, I doubt if 
 you would have a decent meal or a good suit of clothes," 
 replied the minister's wife, looking at him with a smile. 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 "6h, well, that may be, Sarah. But let me read the 
 other letter." He went on without discussing the salary 
 matter. 
 
 "Elmdale, Chapel Hill Church. , 
 "Rev. Phillip Strong. 
 
 Dear Brother,— At a meeting of the Elmdale Chapel 
 Hill Church held last week (Thursday) it was unanimously 
 voted to extend you a call to become pastor of the church 
 at a salary of two thousand dollars a year, with two 
 months' vacation, to be selected at your own convenience. 
 The Chapel Hill Church is in a prosperous condition, and 
 many of the members recall your career in our college 
 with much pleasure. This is an especially strong centre 
 for church work, the proximity of the boys' Academy a.id 
 the University making the situation one of great power • 
 to a man who thoroughly understands and enjoys young 
 men as we know you do. We most earnestly hope you will 
 consider this call, not as purely formal, but as from the 
 hearts of the people. We are, very cordially yours, 
 
 "^ - " Professor Wellman, 
 
 "Chairman of the Board of Trustees." 
 
 "The salary is just the same, isn't it r- said the min- 
 ister's wife. 
 
 "Now, Sarah," said the minister, "if I didn't know 
 what a generous, unselfish heart you really have, I should 
 get vexed at you for talking about the salary as if that 
 were the most important thing." 
 
 " The salary is very important, though. But you know, 
 Phillip, I would be as willing as 'you are to live on no 
 salary if the grocer and butcher would continue to feed us 
 for nothing. I wish from the bottom of my heart that we 
 could live without money." 
 
 " It is a bother, isn't it ?" replied Phillip, so gravely 
 that his wife laughed heartily ;»t his toii^ 
 
10 
 
 THE CBUOIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 "Which of the two churches do you prefer?" asked 
 his wife. 
 
 " I would rather go to the Chapel Hill Church as far 
 as my preference is concerned." 
 
 " Then why not accept their call if that is the way you 
 feel ?" 
 
 " Because while I should like to go to Elmdale I feel 
 a* if I ought to go to Milton." 
 
 " ?°T' f •>'"»?' I don't see why in a choice of this kind 
 you don t do as you feel inclined to do, and accept the call 
 that pleases you most. Why should ministers always be 
 doing what they ought instead of what they like ? You 
 never please yourself. '^ 
 
 "Well, Sarah," replied Phillip, good-njtturedly. "tliit 
 is the way of it. The church in Elmdale is in a University 
 town. The atmosphere of the place is scholastic. .You 
 know I passed four years of student life there. With the 
 exception of the schools there are not a thousand people 
 in the village, a quiet, sleepy, dull, retired, studious place. 
 I love the memory of it. I could go there as the pastor of 
 the Elmdale church and preach to an audiepce of college 
 boys eight months in the year and to about eighty refined, 
 scholarly. Christian people the rest of the time. I could 
 indulge my taste for reading and writing and enjoy a quiet 
 pastorate there to the end of my life." 
 
 " Then, Phillip, I don't see why you don't reply to their 
 call and tell them you will accept; and we will move at 
 once to Elmdale, and live and die there. It is a beautiful 
 place, and I am sure we could live very comfortably on the 
 salary and the vacation. There is no vacation mentioned 
 in the other call." • 
 
 "But, on the other hand," continued the minister, 
 almost as if he were alone and arguing with himself, and 
 had not heard his wife's words, " on the 6ther hand, there 
 is Milton, a manufacturing town of eighty thousand peo- 
 ple, iTiost of them connected wiUi ihc mills. It is the centre 
 

 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. C 
 
 of much that belongs to the stirring life of the times in 
 wh,ch we hve. The labor question ,s there in the lives of 
 those operatives. There are very many churches of dif- 
 ferent denominations, to the best of my knowledge, all 
 etrmng after popularity and power. There is much hard, 
 ste n work to ^e done in Milton by the true Church o 
 I cannot J^f '^ «". ^^^^ings to men's needs, and somehow 
 to^L ^'t^'^'Z^ * ^°'«. ' Phillip Strong, go to Mil- 
 ton and work for Christ. Abandon your dream of a parish 
 where you may indulge you, love of scholarship in the 
 qmet atmosphere of a University town, and plunge into th 
 hard, disagreeable, but necessary work of this age in the 
 
 being discussed, and the masses are engrossed in the ter- 
 nble struggle for liberty and home, where physical life 
 
 preach hrfil;"' '^"'"''"^ °^ '""^ ^^^^^^ and the 
 preacher the fightmg powers of giants of God to restore in 
 men s souls a more just proportion of the value of the li e 
 of man on the earth.' 
 
 pause^^-r "f',^*"'-" *h« '"'""t*^^ went on after a little 
 pause, I want to go to Elmdale. but the Lord probably 
 wants me to go to Milton." prooaoiy 
 
 Mrs Strong was silent. She had the utmost faith in her 
 husband that he would do exactly what he knew Te ough 
 to do when once he decided what it was. Phillip Strong 
 
 tllSkt sS?."~ ^' '-' '' -■^'' "^-'^ - 
 
 chu4?^" ^'^ *° ^^'"^'^ *'^d become pastor of that 
 
 to MUton_more impemtive? IT^e mo.. I think oft Z 
 • " ""' «^«vineea that I must go to Milton." "' " 
 
12 tHE CRUCIFIXION OF I'HltLlP StROMCJ. 
 
 "Then," said the minister's wife, rising suddenly and 
 speaking with a mock seriousness that her husband fully 
 understood, " I don't see why you called me up to decide 
 what you had evidently settled already. Do you consider 
 that fair treatment, sir ? It will serve you right if those 
 biscuits I put in the oven when you called me are fallen 
 as completely as Babylon. And I will make you eat half 
 a dozen of them, sir, to punish you. We cannot afford to 
 waste anything these times." 
 
 " What," cried Phillip, slyly, " not on two thousand dol- 
 lars a year I But I'll eat the biscuits. They can't possibly 
 be any worse than those we had a week after we were mar- 
 ned-the ones we bought |rom the bakery, you remember," 
 Philhp added, hastily. 
 
 " You saved yourself just in time, then," replied the 
 -mmister's wife. She came close up to the desk and in a 
 different tone said, " Phillip, you know I believe in you 
 don't you ? " 
 
 " Yes," said Phillip, simply; " I am sure you do. 1 am 
 impulsive and impractical, but heart and soul, body and 
 mind, I simply want to do the will of God. Is it not so?" 
 " I know it is," she said, " and if you go to Milton it 
 will be because you want to do His will more than to 
 please yourself." 
 
 " Yes. Then, shall I answer the letter to-night ? " 
 " Yes, if you have decided, with my help, of course." 
 " Of course, you foolish creature, you know I could not 
 settl'^ it without you—" 
 
 "As for the biscuits," said the minister's wife, "they 
 will be settled without mt, too, if I don't go down and see 
 to them." She hurried downstairs, and Phillip Strong, 
 with a smile and a sigh, took up his pen .md wrote replies 
 to the two mils he had received, refusing the call to Elm- 
 dale and accepting the one to Milton. And so the strange 
 story of a great-hearted man really began. 
 
 Wl'sn he had finished writing these two !stt?« ^» 
 
 \\ 
 
 IV mute 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG." 13 
 
 another, which throws so much light on his character and 
 his purpose in going to Milton that we will insert it into 
 this story. This is the letter : 
 
 My Dear Alfred.-Two years ago, when we left the 
 Seminary, you remember we promised each other, in case 
 either of us left his present parish, he would let the other 
 know at once. I did not suppose when I came iiere 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 .t. Two months ago my church here practically 
 went out of existence through a union with the other 
 
 too Ton". ''' '*"'' ''''' '^'^'^^^^^ *hat movement i 
 too long for me to relate here, but since it took place I 
 
 ment nTy T "t " '""P^^' ^^"^'"^ ^^e final settle- 
 ment of afJairs and so I was at liberty to accept a call else- 
 
 to me. I have never been there (you know I do not be- 
 
 leve m cand.dating for a place), and so I suppose he r 
 
 church committee came up here to listen to me Two 
 
 "(^" v!!rif ^''^'"''^ ''"*'* *^*' '^^ Lord says to me 
 
 Go. You know my natural inclination is towardra 
 
 quiet, scholarly pastorate. Well, Milton is. as you know 
 
 a noisy, dirty manufacturing town full of workingme^ 
 
 cursed with saloons, and black with coal smoke and ut 
 
 yelr a„5 I. • ' °'' ^^ '' ^^* ''""'^^^'^ '"^'"bers last 
 mains to k/L %, "" ^° '" ^"^^^^ « church re- 
 
 'M 
 
14 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 in which to attempt a different work. I do not think it 
 is necessarily so. The Church of Christ is in itself, I be- 
 / lieve, a powerful engine to set in motion against all evil. 
 I have great faith in the membership of almost any church 
 in this country to accomplish wonderful things for human- 
 ity. And I 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 eighty thousand working 
 people, half of them foreigners, a town with more than one 
 hundred saloons in full blast, a town with many churches 
 of many different denominations, the seven largest situ- 
 ated on one street, and thai street the most fashionable 
 one m the place; a tdwn where the police records show 
 an amount of prime and depravity almopt unparalleled 
 m municipal annals— surely such a place presents an op- 
 portunity for the true Church of Christ to do some splen- 
 did 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 sensitiveness 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 al- 
 most kills me to know that I am criticized for all I say 
 and do. And yet I ki.ow that the ministry will always be 
 the target for criticism. I have an almost morbid shrink- 
 ing from the thought that people do not like me, that I 
 am not Joved by everybody, and yet I know that if I speak 
 the truth in my preaching and speak it wiithoirt regard 
 to consequences, someone is sure to become offended, and 
 in tnc end dislike me. I think the good God never made 
 
 NV 
 
ttt£ CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. I5 
 
 a man with so 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 unapproachable he is " When 
 m reahty I love them with yearning of the heart after them. 
 Now then I am gomg to Milton with all this complex 
 thought of myself, and yet. dear chum, there is not the 
 
 A I ?! '''\«'<"-k there I shall be able to forget myself 
 And then the work will stand out prominent as tTught 
 W,th all my doubts of myself I never que^ion the wis' 
 
 tr ^T^ori'^rtt^^^^ '^-: T posLr::. 
 
 An/j « I, ♦ ^"^ *^°'"K what I ought to do 
 
 Well, my wife is calling me down to tea. Let m. i, 
 
 PHiLLin Sthong. 
 
 church at Milton. As a maLr .f flu ^"" ^^ '^"^ 
 
 all about everything exceotTh? ■^'^ ^^ "'"^ ^°^«°' 
 
 decision to ^o tZnZ'' h\\ZZT::J''^1 f ''' 
 the most serious steo of hJo iV ? ' ^'^ "^''t'^' ^s 
 
 This .^bi. r^t^'r^^i-^^-Lt'ii^f-. r-pidiy. 
 
16 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 of opinion, so that people who did not know hJm thought 
 he was irresolute and fickle. In the present case Phillip 
 acted with his customliry quickness, and knew very well 
 that his action was unalterable. 
 
 Within a week he had removed 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 very homelike. The first Sunday 
 evening after Phillip preached at Milton for the hrst time, 
 he chatted with his wife over the events of the day as they 
 sat befor« a cheerful open fire in a large grate. It was late 
 in the fall and the nights were sharp and frosty. 
 
 " Are you tired tq-night, Phillip ? " asked his wife. 
 " Yes, the day has been rather tiring. Did you think 
 I was nervous ? Did I preach as well as usual ?" Phillip 
 was not vain in the least. He simply put the question to 
 satisfy his own exacting demand upon himself in preach- 
 ing. And there was not a person in the world to whom 
 he would have put such a question except his wife. j 
 
 "No, I thought you did splendidly. I ftlt proud of 
 you. You made some queer gestures, and once you put 
 one of yo&r hands in your pocket. But your sermons were 
 both strong and effective; I am sure the people were im- 
 pressed. It was very still at both services." 
 
 Phillip was silent a moment. And his wife w«nt on. 
 "I am sure we shall like this place, Phillip; what do you 
 think ? " 
 
 " I cannot tell yet. There is very much to do." 
 " How do 'you like the church building ? " 
 
 "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 platform in 
 front of the people by the side of the minister." 
 
 "That's one of your hobbies, Phillip. But the singing 
 was good, didn't you think ^o ? " 
 
 "Yes. the choir is a good one. The congregation 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIF STRONG. 17 
 
 doesn't seem to sing much, and I believe in congregational 
 smgrng. even where there is a choir. But we can bring 
 that about in itime, I think." 
 
 " Now. Phillip." said his wife, in some alarm, " you are 
 no gomg to meddle with the singing, are you ? Yc^u 
 
 " Well." said Phillip, rousing a little, " the' singing is 
 a very important part of the religious service. Ind it 
 
 about H ""b "^'^ 'Z '"'' ^°'"^'^"« •™P°^**"t to say 
 about .t. But you need not fear, Sarah. I'm not goine 
 
 to ^y to change everything all at once." * 
 
 H.S wife looked at him a little anxiously. She had 
 
 world L y ?^ '"'' ""P'*"°"» ^"''•* to reform the 
 ZIL ^" ' '"'^ ^^"" ''^ '^^^^ ««-. changing .the 
 
 ''Telt:/i7 f'T V"' ^°"«-««'-". Phillip ?" 
 was a krt^r u °"*''* '* ^"^ ^"y ^"entive. There 
 pected." '" """'" °"^ ^''^ ---"^ than, I had e" 
 
 "Did you like the looks of the people ?» 
 ^^ They were all very nicely dressed." 
 
 "I think I shall," reoli-d Phili.v k .» 1. 
 tone that might ha;e meam a ^r^a't ^Z* '^^ "'^ '* '« « 
 there was a silence and a^l »». ■ ^' "'°"- ^»^'" 
 
 first to break it "^ " *^' '"'"'^^^'^ ^'^^ was the 
 
 " '^^^^^ was J place in v^ur -ern-^-, ^ • - 
 
 -ere ,0,. app.„. „. ,„« ..'rcrr/ ,?'Z' 
 
 ;i.'-i-.>2';-**!.,-' 
 
li fkii CHUClFlXloN 0|f I'HlLUi StRONd. 
 
 scsm sometimes at home when you have some writing or 
 some newspaper article on your mind and someone sud- 
 denly interrupts you with a question far from your 
 thoughts. What was the matter ? Did you foract a 
 point ? " 
 
 " No; I'll tell you. From where I stand on the pulpit 
 platform I can see through one of the windows over the 
 front door. There is a large electric lamp burning out- 
 side, 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 Ijheir faces 
 very well, but I 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 two hundred pa.ised by the church whilr I was preach 
 •ng. Well, after a while I began to ask myself whethei 
 there was any possible way of getting those young people 
 to come into the church, instead of strolling past ? And 
 then I Ijhought of the people in front of me, and saw how 
 different they were from those outside, and wondered if 
 it wouldn't*be better to close up the church and go and 
 preach on the street where the people were. And this 
 carrying on of all that questioning with myself, while I 
 tried to preach, caused a little ' embarrassment,' as you 
 kindl> call it, in the sermon." 
 
 " I sihould think so I But how do you know, Phillip, 
 that those people outside were in any need of your 
 preaching ?" 
 
 Phillip appeared surprised at the question. He looked 
 at hill wife, and her face was serious. 
 • "Why, do not all people need preaching ? They may 
 not stand in need of my preaching, perhaps, but they ought 
 to have sc -, And I cannot help tihinking of what is the 
 duty of t'le . .t: in thh place, to the great crowd out- 
 side. Soir.f u »t ^ ^^.t to be done. I know. AnA .««^ 
 
^!s.$:?.|fcAi.,. 
 
 TllE CKUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 19 
 
 thing will be (J^.ne by Calvary Church in time. I foresee 
 the need o* a i imn. .se amount of prayer and work. And 
 I neev " er> 1 mch wisdom." 
 
 yoJt^hink'loV''" "" '°" "^'' ^'" •'^ ^'""^' ^-'^ 
 I know it will." replied Phillip, with the calm assur- 
 ance of a v.ry positive, but spiritually minded, man. He 
 never thought his Master was honored by being asked 
 or small thmgs. or by men doubting the powe^ofchrU 
 tiamty to do great things. ' 
 
 Always when he said " I " he simply meant, not Phillin 
 S rong. but Christ in Phillip Strong. To den; the pow r 
 
 ZZ^:ir '""^"^''°" -' '° '^^ '"'"^- - hlT 
 to ll^pZt: '°"°"''""' "^"'"'^ ""^'^ ^'- announcement 
 
 th.7?'?"'"^ ■'""''' "'^* ^""^^y '"orning. I shall eive 
 
 and'cour'a^:.s'i„"i:^ what%'"b r '^ 'nt^ ^"'^ ^"'^ 
 would.give you if he were tl'pLor o r", n '''""'^ 
 
 Milton to-dav «?« a, ^ Calvary Church in 
 
 w* ™e,V7.„ «■«;?/.; „TcS ' "'^" '"" »<>-<'. 
 
 ■'I..-1 I shall say i,, H„ 1' ' o^ "°"''' "*'"'<' 'W 
 
 seemto£:tr 
 
 mi take 1 ^Uu'T.l" "^ ""''"«'• ' ^h^" ™a'^« 
 ay B.; n, '''°^''^'^ ^^^ ^' '"«« Christ would not 
 
 Spirit oTtX/Z " '"' ^°"^" °^ ^" ^- ''^'P' ^»^ 
 ._.,.,.. .}}: ^ '^^" as >est a man mav ,n«i, ,. t 
 
 -7 ncneve Christ would if he were your pasi^rT" Tl^si 
 
20 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 talks will be ^iven on the first Sunday of every montjh. 
 I cannot announce the subjects, for they will be chosen 
 as the opportunities arise." 
 
 During the week Phillip spent several hours of each 
 day in learning the facts concerning the town. One of 
 the first things he did was to buy an accurate map of the 
 place. He hung it up on tjhe wall of his situdy, and in 
 after days found occasion to make good use of it He 
 spent his afternoons walking over the town. He noted 
 with special interest and earnestness the great brick mills 
 by the river, five enormous structures with immense chim- 
 neys, 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 She throbbing of the 
 hearts of five living creatures. The unpainted tenements, 
 ugly in their unfailing similarity, affected Phillip with a 
 sense of something like 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. Com- 
 ing home one day past lOie tenements he found himself in 
 an unknown street, and for the curiosity of it he counted 
 the saloons on the street in one block. There were over 
 twelve. There was a policeman on the corner as Phillip 
 reached the crossirfg, and he enquired of the officer if he 
 could tell him who owned the property in the block con- 
 taining the saloons. 
 
 " I believe most of the houses belong to Mr. Winter 
 sir." ' 
 
 " Mr. William Winter ? " asked Phillip. 
 
 "Yes, I think that's his name. He is the largest owner 
 in the Ocean Mill yonder." 
 
 ^^ Phillip thanked the man and went on towards home. 
 
 William Winter I " he exclaimed. " Is it possible that 
 
 man will accept a revenue from the renting of his pre 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PUILLIP STRONG. 21 
 
 peiiy to these vestibules of hell ? That man ! One of the 
 leading members of my church I Chairman of the board 
 of trustees and a leading citizen of the place ! It does not 
 seem possible I " 
 
 But before the week was out Phillip had found out facts 
 that made his heart burn with shame and roused his in- 
 dignation. Property in the town which was being used for 
 saloons, gambling houses, and dens of wickedness, was 
 owned ,n large part by several of the most prominent mem- 
 bers of his church. There was no doubt of the fact. Phil- 
 lip, whose very nature was frankness itself, resolved to go 
 to these men and have a plain talk with tSiem about it 
 It seemed to him like a monstrously evil thing that a Chris- 
 tian believer, a church member, should be renting his pro- 
 perty to these dens of vice, and taking the money. He 
 
 ?n h ° K i*"- ^Tr ''"* ^' ^' °"t °^ town and would 
 
 not be back until Saturday night. H. went to see "n 
 
 bther member who was a large shareholder in one of *h 
 
 mills, and a heavy property owner. It was not a ^leas n? 
 
 hmg to do. but Phillip boldly stated the precipe reasoa 
 
 for his call, and asked if it was true that he rented several 
 
 houses m a certain block where saloons and gambling 
 
 houses were numerous. The man looked at Phillip, turned 
 
 red. and finally said it was a fact, but none of Phillip's 
 
 business. , 
 
 " My dear brother," said Phillip, with a sad but kindly 
 smile you cannot imagine what it costs me to come to 
 you about this matter. In one sense, it may seem like an 
 mpertinent meddling i„ your business. I„ another s-nse, 
 
 rj^. J"""^^' *° ^° '' P^^*°^ °^ « church which 
 
 .s dearer to me than my life. And I have come to you as a 
 
 S Christ '"'^r ^^' ' '■* ^"""^ *° ^- '^^^ 
 aUow 1 ^^^^ ''''''■°"* '^''' y°"' ^''' <J«»<=5p'e. should 
 
 ^arj^ m^^^.'^^ -- -to your hands that 
 
 — J. _.„.. ,j j.jj jjj_ .... ..... 
 
 his glory and the building up of his 
 
22 THE CRUCraiXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 kingdom, to be used by the agents of the devil while you 
 reap the financial benefit. Is it right, my brother ? " 
 
 Ine man to whom the question .vas put made the usual 
 excuses, that if he did not rent to these people, other men 
 would, that there was no call for the property for other 
 purposes, and if it were not rented to objectionable people 
 it would lie empty at a dead loss, and so forth. To all 
 of which Phillip opposed the plain will of God, that all a 
 man has should be used in clean and honest ways, and He 
 could never sanction the getting of money through such 
 immoral channels. The man was finally induced to ac- 
 knowledge that it was not just the right thing to do, and 
 especially for a church bember. ^But, when Phillip pressed 
 him to give up the whole iniquitous revenue, and 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 question for me to give 
 them up. You are too nice in the matter. All the pro- 
 perty owners in Milton do the same thing. There isn't a - 
 man of any means in tihe 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 in this matter. I don't take oflfence. I 
 thmk 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 it will support you handsomely; but men are very 
 touchy when their private business is meddled with." 
 
 Phillip sat listening to this speech, and his face grew 
 white, and he clenched his hands tighter as the man went 
 on.^ When he had finished. Phillip spoke in a low voice : 
 
 " Mr. Bently, you do not know me, if you think any 
 
 fear of the rnn«pniiAn/>Aa <»:it «_^..__i • . 
 
 - ^ „,,, ;..:^ycm iny spcaKiHg 10 1116 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 23 
 
 members of my church on any matter where it seems to me 
 I ought to speak. In this particular matter I believe it is 
 not only my right, but my duty to speak. I should be 
 shamed before my Lord and Master, if I did not declare 
 His will in regard to the uses of property. This question 
 passes over from on» of private business, with which I 
 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 
 ^own, shall not be encouraged and allowed to flourish 
 througih the use of property owned and controlled by men 
 of influence in the community, and especially by the mem- 
 bers of Christ's body, which He prayed might be without 
 spot or wrmkle or any defilement. My brother," Phillip 
 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 matter ? Would not Ohrist say to you just what I 
 am now saying ? " 
 
 Mr. Bently shrugged his shoulders and said something 
 about not trying to mix up business and religion. Phillip 
 sat lookmg 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 He 
 rose and with the same sweet frankness which character- 
 ized h,s opening of tihe subject, he said, " Brother, I wish 
 to tell you that it is my intention to speak of this matter 
 next Sunday ,n the first of my talks on Christ and Modern 
 
 Lhl'.V I \ u '* -l^^^^^thing He would talk .bout in 
 public, and I will speak of it as I think He would." 
 
 " You must do your duty, of course, Mr. Strong," re- 
 phed Mr.Bentley, somewhat coldly: and Phillip went out, 
 feeling as if he had grappled with his first dragon in Mil- 
 ton and found him to be a very ugly one and hard to kill. 
 What hurt him as much as the lack of spiritual fineness of 
 appfchcsion of evil in his church member was tlie know- 
 
24 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONC. 
 
 ledge that, as Mr. Bentley so carelessly put it, his salary 
 was largely paid out of the rentals of those vile abodes. 
 Pie grew sick at heart as he dwelt upon the disagreeable 
 fact; and as he came back to the parsonage and went up to 
 his cosy study, he groaned to think that it was supported 
 by the money that men paid for the ruin of their souls, 
 
 •' And this, because society is as it is 1 " he e:i^claimed, 
 as lie 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 Phillip Strong was not one to give way at the first 
 feeling of seeming defeat. Neither did he harshly condemn 
 his members. He wondered at their lack of spiritual life; 
 but, to his credit be it said, he did not harshly condemn! 
 Only, as Sunday approached, he grew more clear in his 
 own mind as to duty in the matter. Expediency whispered 
 to him. " Better wait. You have just come here. The 
 people like you now. To launch out into a crusade against 
 this thing immediately will only cause unpleasant feelings 
 and do no good. There are so many of your members in- 
 volved that it will certainly alienate their support, and pos- 
 sibly lead to your losing your place as pastor, if it do not 
 drive away the most influential members." 
 
 To all this plea of expediency Phillip replied. " Get thee 
 -behind me, Satan ! " Ke said to himself, he might as well 
 let the people know what he was at the very first. It was 
 not necessary that he should be their pastor, if they would 
 none of him. It was necessary that he preach the truth 
 boldly. The one question he asked himself was. " Would 
 Jesus Christ, if He were pastor of Calvary Church in Milton 
 to-day, speak of the matter next Sunday, and speak regard- 
 less of all consequences ? " Phillip asked the question 
 honestly; and. after long prayer and much communion v/ith 
 " "• - *— ^=^^«. J^c3, X Dciieve tie would/' it 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 2$ 
 
 is possible that he might have gained his end by working 
 with his members in private. Another man might have 
 pm-sued that method, and still have been a courageous, 
 true minister. But this is the story of Phillip Strong, not^ 
 of another man, and this is what he did. 
 
 When Sunday morning came, he went into his pulpit 
 with the one thought in mind, that he would simply and 
 frankly, in his presentation of the subject, use tlit language 
 and the spirit of the Master. He had seen several other 
 property owners during the week, and his interviews were 
 nearly all similar to the one with Mr. Bentley. He had not 
 been able to see Mr. William Winter, the chairman of the 
 trustees, as he had not returned home until very late Sat- 
 urday night. Phillip saw him come into the church that 
 morning, just as the choir rose to sing the anthem. He 
 WES a large, fine-looking man. Phillip admired his physi- 
 cal appearance, as he marched down the aisle to his pew 
 which was the third from the front, directly before the 
 pt.!pit. 
 
 When the hymn had been sung, the offering taken the 
 prayer made, Phillip stepped out at one side of the pulpit 
 and reminded the congregation that, according to his an- 
 I'ouncement of a week before, he would give the first of his 
 senes of monthly talks on. Christ and Modern Society. His 
 subject this morning, he said, was " The Right and Wrong 
 Uses of Property." 
 
 He started out with the statement, which he claimed 
 was verified everywhere in the Word of God, that all pro- 
 perty that men acquire is really only in the nature of trust 
 fur.ds, which the property holder is in duty bound to use 
 as a steward. The gold is God's. The silver is God's. The 
 cattle on a thousand hills. All land and water privileges 
 and all the wealth of the earth and of the seas belong prim- 
 arily to the Lord of aii the earth. When any of this pro- 
 perty comes within the rnn^rnl nf a r»^^ u. .• . 
 
 "berty {p wse it as if it were h»s own. and his alone, but as 
 
26 TjJE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 God would have him use it, to better the condition of life, 
 and make men and communities happier and more useful. 
 
 From this statement Phillip went on to speak of the 
 common idea which men had, that wealth and houses and 
 lands were their own, to do with as they pleased; and he 
 showed what misery and trouble had always flowed out of 
 this great falsehood, and how nations and individuals were 
 to-day in the greatest distress because of the wrong uses 
 to which God's property was put by men who had control 
 of it. It was easy then to narrow the argument to the con- 
 dition of affairs in Milton. As he stepped from the general 
 to the particular, ^nd began to speak of the rental of 
 saloons and houses of gambling from property owners in 
 Milton, and then characterized such" a use of God's pro- 
 perty as wrong and unchristian, it was curious to note the 
 effect on the congregation. Men who had been listening 
 complacently to Phillip's eloquent but quiet statements, 
 as long as he confined himself to historical facts, suddenly 
 became aware that the tall, noble-faced, resolute and loving 
 young preacher up there was talking right at them; and 
 more than one mill owner, merchant, real estate dealer, 
 and even professional man, writhed inwardly, and ner- 
 vously shifted in his cushioned pew, as Phillip spoke in the 
 plainest terms of -the terrible example set the world by the 
 use of property for purposes which were destructive to all 
 true society, and a shame to civilization and Christianity. 
 Phillip controlled his voice and his manner admirably, but 
 he drove the truth home and spared not. His voice at no 
 time rose above a quiet conversational tone, but it was 
 clear, and his utterance was distinct. The audience sat 
 hushed in the spell of a genuine sensation as Phillip went 
 on; and the sensation deepened when, at the close of a 
 tremendous sentence, which swept through the churcH like 
 a led-hot flame. Mr. Winter suddenly arose in his pew 
 passed out into the aisle, and walked deliberately down and 
 
 out of the ilnnr PhiH 
 
 i{- ..«T- i(.r,i oilll KlIC 
 
 cw inc reason. 
 
tn£ cJtOcltlxioN ot I'tilLLlt StkoNd. i; 
 
 but went straight on with his message, and no one, not 
 even his anxious wife, who endured martyrdom for him that 
 morning, could detect any disturbance in Phillip from the 
 mill owner's contemptuous withdrawal. 
 
 When Phillip closed with a prayer of tender appeal 
 that the Spirit of Truth would make all hearts to behold 
 the truth as one soul, the audience remained seated longer 
 than usual, still under the influence of the subject, and the 
 mornmg's sensational service. All through the day Phillip 
 felt a certain strain on him, which did not subside even 
 when the evening service was over. Very many of the 
 members, notably several of the mothers, thanked him. 
 with tears m their eyes, for his morning message. Very 
 few of the men talked with him. Mr. Winter did not come 
 out to the evening service, although he was one of the 
 very few men members who were invariably present. Phil- 
 Kp noticed his absence, but preached with his usual enthu- 
 siasm. He thought a larger number of strangers was pre- 
 sent than he had seen the SOnday before. He was very 
 tired when the day was over. 
 
 The next morning, as he was getting ready to go out 
 for a visit to one of the mills, the bell rang. He was near 
 the door and opened it. There stood Mr. Winter " I 
 should like to see you a few moments. Mr. Strong, if you 
 can spare the time," said the mill owner, without offering 
 to take the hand Phillip extended. 
 
 "Certainly. Will you come up to my study?" asked 
 Phillip, quietly. 
 
 The two men Went upstairs, and Phillip shut the door 
 as he motioned Mr. Winter to a seat, and then sat down 
 opposite. 
 
28 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 
 " 1 have come to see you about your sermon of yester- 
 day morning," began Mr. Winter, abruptly, " I consider 
 what you said was a direct insult to me, personally." 
 
 " Suppose 1 should say it was not so intended," replied 
 Phillip, with a good-natured smile. 
 
 " Then I should say you lied 1 " retorted Mr. Winter, 
 sharply. 
 
 Phillip sat very still. And the two men eyed each other 
 in silence for a moment. Then the minister reached out 
 his hand and laid it on the other's arm, saying as he did so, 
 " My brother, you certainly did not come into my house 
 to accuse me unjustly of wronging you ? I am willing to 
 talk the matter over in a friendly spirit, but will not listen 
 to personal abuse." 
 
 There was something in the tone and manner of this 
 declaration that sutiued the mill owner. He was an elder 
 man than Phillip by twenty years, but a man of quick and 
 ungoverned temper. He had come to see the ministor 
 while in a heat of passion, and the way Phillip received 
 him, the calmness and dignity of his attitude, thwarted his 
 purpose. He wanted to find a man ready to quarrel. In- 
 stead, he found a man ready to talk reason. Mr. Winter 
 replied, after a pause, during which he controlled himself 
 by a great eflFort : 
 
 " I consider that you purposely selected me as guilty 
 of conduct unworthy a church member and a Christian 
 and made me the target of your remarks yesterday. And 
 I wish to say that such preaching will never do in Calvary 
 Church while I am one of its members." 
 
 " Of course, you refer to the matter of renting your pro- 
 P«-ty to saloon men and to halls fnr o-o^m: j ..... 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 29 
 
 evil uses.'^ said Phillip, bluntly. " Are you the only mem- 
 ber of Calvary Church who lets his property for such pur- 
 poses ? " 
 
 " It is not a preacher's business to pry into the affairs 
 of his church members ! " replied Mr. Winter, growing 
 more excited again. "That is what I object to." 
 
 " In the first place, Mr. Winter," said Phillip, steadily, 
 *• let us settle the right and wrong of the whole business. 
 Is it right for a business man, a Christian man, a church 
 member, to rent his property for saloons and vicious re- 
 sorts, where humar life is ruined ? " 
 " That is not the question." 
 
 " What is ? " Phillip asked, with his eyes wide open, 
 Mr. Winter answered, sullenly : " The question is 
 whether our business affairs, those of other men with me, 
 are to be dragged into the Sunday church services and 
 made the occasion of personal attacks upon us. I for one 
 will not sit and listen to any such preaching." 
 
 " But aside from the matter of private business, Mr. 
 Wmter, let us settle whether what you and others are do- 
 ing is right. Will you let the other matter rest a moment 
 and tell me what is the duty of a Christian in the use of 
 his property ? " 
 
 " It is my property, and if I or my agent choose to rent 
 it to another man in a legal, business-like way, that is my 
 affair. I do not recognize that you have anything to do 
 with it" 
 
 " Not if I am convinced that you are doing what is 
 harmful to the community and to the church ? " 
 
 " You have no business to meddle in our private af- 
 fairs ! " replied Mr. Winter, angrily. "And if you intend 
 to pursue that method of preaching, I shall withdraw my 
 
 '"T'*!^"** '"°'* °^ *^*^ influential, paying members will 
 ■o,,Orf sisy example." 
 

 r: 
 
 30 tHfi citUciPixioN OP imtLLtp st&om. 
 
 It was a cowardly threat on the part of th; excited 
 mill owner, and it roused Phillip more than if he had been 
 physically slapped in the face. If there was anything in all 
 the world that stirred Phillip to his oceanic depths of feel- 
 ing, It was an intimation that he was in the ministry for 
 pay, and so must be afraid of losing the support of those 
 members who were able to pay largely. He clenched his 
 hands around the arms of his study chair until his nails 
 bent on the hard wood. His scorn and indignation burned 
 in his face, although his voice was calm enough. 
 
 " Mr. Winter, this whole affair is a matter of the most 
 profound principle wich me. As long as I live I shall be- 
 lieve that a Christian man has no more right to rent his 
 property to a saloon than he has to run a saloon himself. 
 /And as long as I live I shall also believe that it is a min- 
 ister's duty to preach to his church plainly upon matters 
 which bear upon the right and wrong of life, no matter 
 what IS involved in those matters. /Are money and houses 
 and lands of such a character that the use of them has no 
 beanng on moral questions, and is therefore to be left out 
 of the preaching material of the pulpit ? It is my convic- 
 tion that the men of property in this age have come to 
 regard their business as separated and removed from God 
 and all relation to Him. The business' men of to-day do 
 not regard their property as God's. They always speak of 
 it as theirs. And they resent any ' interference.' as you call 
 It, on the part of the pulpit. Nevertheless, I say it plainly 
 I regard the renting of these houses by you, and other 
 busmess men in the church, to the whiskey men and the 
 corrupters of youth as wholly wrong, and so wrong that 
 /'he Christian minister who should keep silent when he 
 knew the facts would be guilty of unspeakable cowardice 
 and disloyalty to his Lord./ As to your threat of with- 
 drawal of support, sir. do you suppose I would be in the 
 ministry if I were afraid of the rich men in my cor 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHII.LIP STRONG. 31 
 
 tion i^It shows that you are not yet acquainted with me. 
 It would not hurt you to know me better I " 
 
 All the time Phillip was talking his "manner was that 
 of dignified indignation. His anger was never coarse or 
 vulgar. But when he was -oused as he was now he spoke 
 with a total disregard for all consequences. For the time 
 being he felt as perhaps one of the old Hebrew proi. ns 
 used to feci when the flame of inspired wrath burned in 
 his soul. ^-' 
 
 nnn^pJ^r" r^° '"' °PP°''*' *"' compelled to keep silent 
 until Phillip had said what he had to say. Also, it was out 
 of the question that a man like Mr. Winter should under- 
 
 IoraL\ri"'f ''' *''' "' ''^"'■'' ^'^°"«- The mill owner 
 sprang o h.s eet as soon as Phillip finished. He was white 
 
 K, r rf ''''''°"' ^"^ ^° «^*=it«d that his hands 
 trembled and hisVoice shook as he replied to Phillip: 
 
 You shall answer for these insults, sir. I withdraw 
 
 ment";h. t \'' ""n "°" "'" ^" "^'^'''^ '"^^ business 
 men m the church will sustain such preaching." And Mr 
 
 ^Itin'^ TW'^Tl °"' °^ '""^ ''^'y ^"' d--t-" for 
 getting to take his hat. which he had carried up with him 
 
 Philhp caught it up and went downstairs with it reaching 
 
 H: Ta :rm" lV"fV" ': ^^" ^°'"^ °«^ °^ the front doo^ 
 Hesadsmply, ' You forgot your hat, sir." Mr Winter 
 
 s Ltd^r ^^^^^ -' -"^ °-' ^'-"^- ^^^"o" 
 
 "Tell me all about it. Phillip," she said. Sunday even- 
 
 o"ut fThe cV^' W°-" ''' ''-' °^ ^^- Winter's w'akZ 
 out of the church during the service, and had anticipated 
 some trouble. Phillip related the facts of Mr W ^f '^ 
 v.s.t, telling his wife what the mil, owner L^Lu'"'"^ 
 What did you say, Phillip, to make him so angry? 
 Did you give him a piece of your mind ? " " 
 
 I eave him ffl/a nrhnt.. -* Ii. fl __ .• . i_ 
 
 ^■"'" "* "• "^cP'^ea fiiiUip, somewhat 
 
32 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PWILLIP STRONG. 
 
 grimly— "at least all of it on that particular subject that 
 he could stand." 
 
 " Oh, dear I It seems too bad to have this trouble 
 come so soon I What will Mr. Winter do .' He is a very 
 wealthy man, and inlluential in the church. Do you think 
 —are you sure you have done just right for the best in 
 this matter, Phillip ? It is going to be very unpleasant for 
 you." 
 
 " Well, Sarah, I would not do otherwise than I have 
 done. What have I done ? I have simply preached God's 
 truth, as 1 plainly see it, to my church. And if I do not 
 do that, what business have I in the ministry at all ? I 
 regret this personal eticounter with Mr. Winter; but I don't 
 see how I could have avoided it." 
 
 " Did you lose your temper ?" , 
 
 . "No." 
 
 " There was some very loud talking. I could hear it 
 away out in the kitchen." 
 
 " Well, you know, Sarah, the angrier I get the less in- 
 clmed I feel to 'holler.' It was Mr. Winter you heard 
 He was very much excited when he came, and nothing 
 that I could conscientiously say would have made any 
 difference with him." 
 
 1^ Did you ask him to pray over the matter with you?" 
 No. I do not think he was in a praying mood." 
 Were you ? " 
 
 Phillip hesitated a moment, and then replied, seriously. 
 Yes, J truly believe I was-that is. I should not have been * 
 ashamed at any part of the interview to put myself into 
 loving communion with my Heavenly Father" 
 
 Mrs. Strong still looked disturbed and anxious. She 
 was going over in her mind the probable result of Mr 
 Winter's antagonism to the minister. It'i.>oked to her 
 
 affair Ihh 7'°^ *'vT ''""'^ "^^ '"^""^^ *° *-^^ ^^e 
 affair with a calm philosophy, based pn the knowledge 
 
 that his conscience was clear of all fault in the n..Z. 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 33 
 
 " What do you suppose Mr. Winter will do ? " Mrs. 
 Strong asked. ' .. " 
 
 " He threatened to withdraw his financial support, and 
 said other paying members would do the same." 
 
 " Do you think they will ? " 
 
 " I don't know. I shouldn't wonder if they did." 
 
 " What will you do then ? It will be dreadful to have 
 a disturbance of that kind in the church, Phillip; it will 
 ruin your prospers here. You will not be able to work 
 under' all that friction." 
 
 And the minister's wife suddenly broke down and had 
 a good cry; while Phillip comforted her, first by saying 
 two or three funny things, and secondly by asserting with 
 a positive cheerfulness which was peculiar to him when he 
 was hard pressed that, even if the church withdrew all sup^ 
 port, he could probably get a job somewhere on a railroad 
 or in a hotel, where there was always a demand for porters 
 
 sleVt°«nk.''"' "" """' "^'^^ "' '''''' "'^"^ *'«-^- 
 
 Phinf °'"'*''"" / '""""'^ '^'"^ ^ ™'"^d my calling," said 
 Phillip purposely talking about himself in order to make 
 h. wife come to the defence. "I ought to have been a 
 locomotive fireman." 
 
 "The idea, Phillip Strong ! A man who has the gift 
 of reaching people with preaching the way you do '• 
 
 •'lll^V^'"'^ ^'- ^'"*"' f^*- example!" 
 the vly factlh^r "'''' "^ "'^ ^°" '•"'^h '''^- ^hy, 
 
 touched by any ol^LZtLll'- '"^' '"^" "^ ^^ 
 
 asked'Srtr"' ' '"^ ' '''' ''' '' --''••"- ^^ 
 ^^^^A little gift, It is a great deal more than a little, 
 
 "Aren't you a littl*. nr-.-..^:— j o .... 
 ^ No. sir. I am the severest critic you ever have in 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 the congregation. If you only knew how nervous you 
 sometimes make me!— when you get started on some ex- 
 citing passage and make a gesture that would throw a stone 
 image into a fit, and then begin to speak of something in 
 a different way, like another person, and the first I know 
 I am caught up and hurled into the subject, and forget all 
 about you." 
 
 "Thank you," said Phillip. 
 
 "What for?" asked his wife, laughing. "For for^ 
 getting you ?" 
 
 " I would rather be forgotten by you than remembered 
 by any one else," replied Phillip, gallantly. "And you are 
 such a delightful little flatterer that I feel courage for any- 
 thing that may happen." 
 
 "It's not flattery; it's truth Phillip. I do believe in 
 you and your work; and I am only anxious that you 
 should succeed here. I can't bear to think of trouble in 
 the Church. It would almost kill me to go through such 
 times as we sometimes read about." 
 
 " We must leave results with God. I am sure we are 
 not responsible for more than our utmost doing and living 
 of necessary truth." Phillip spoke courageously. 
 
 " Then you don't feel disheartened by the event of this 
 mornmg, Phillip ?" 
 
 "No. I don't know that I do. I'm very sensitive, and 
 I feel hurt at Mr. Winter's threat of withdrawing financial 
 support; but I don't feel disheartened for the work. Why 
 should I ? Am I not doing my best ?" 
 
 "I believe you are. Only, dear Phillip, be wise. Do 
 not try to reform everything in a week, or expect people 
 to grow their wings before they have started even the 
 ptnfeathers. It isn't natural." 
 
 "Well, I won't," replied Phillip, with a laugh " Bet- 
 ter tr.m your wings. Sarah; they're dragging on the floor." 
 ^ He hunted up his hat (which was one of the »!,;„« 
 inui.p could never find twice in the same place), "kUsed 
 
 / 
 
i±.;f., 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 35 
 
 his wife, and went out to make the visit at the mill which 
 he was getting ready to make when Mr. Winter called. 
 
 To his surprise, when he went down through the busi- 
 ness part of the town, he discovered that his sermon of 
 Sunday had. roused almost every one. People were talking 
 about it on the street— an almost unheard-of way of treating 
 sermons in Milton. When the evening paper came out it 
 described in sensational paragraphs the Rev. Mr. Strong's 
 attack on the wealthy sinners of his own church, and went 
 on to say that the church " was very much wrought up 
 over the sermon, and would probably make it uncomfort- 
 able for the reverend gentleman." Phillip wondered as 
 he read, at the unusual stir made because a preacher of 
 Christ had denounced an undoubted evil. 
 
 "Is it, then," he asked himself, "such a remarkable 
 piece of news that a minister of the Gospel has preached 
 from his own pulpit against what is without question an 
 unchristian use of property ? . What is the meaning of the 
 pulpit unless it exists to preach the Christianity of Christ 
 applied to the uses of property, as well as to the uses of 
 time and talent ? Is it possible that the public is so little 
 accustomed to hear anything on this subject that when 
 they do hear it it is to them of the nature of sensational 
 news ?" 
 
 He pondered over these questions as he quietly but 
 rapidly went along with his work that week. He was con- 
 scious as the days went on that trouble was brewing for 
 him. He had met Mr. Winter several times on the street, 
 and the mill-owner had not recognized him. This hurt 
 him in a way hard to explain; but his sensitive spirit felt 
 the cut like a lash on a sore place. 
 
 When Sunday came Phillip went into his pulpit and 
 faced the largest audience he had yet seen in Calvary 
 Church. As is often the case, people who had heard of 
 «5= pieviotis sera.on on Sunday thought he would preach 
 another 15ke it. Instead of that he preached a sermon 
 
36 THE CRUCIFIXION OF ' PHILLIP STRONG. * 
 
 on the love of God for the world. In one way the 
 large audience was disappointed. It had come to have 
 ^ its love of sensation fed, and Phillip had not given it any- 
 thing of the kind. In another way the audience was pro- 
 foundly moved by the power and sweetness of Phillip's 
 unfolding of the great subject. Men who had not been 
 inside of a church for years went away thoughtfully im- 
 , pressed with the old truth of God's love, and asked them- 
 selves what they had done to deserve it— the very thing 
 that Phillip wanted them to ask. The property-owners in 
 the church who had felt offended by Phillip's sermon of 
 the Sunday before went away from the service acknow- 
 Jedgmg that the new pastor was an eloquent preacher and 
 a man of large gifts. In the evening Phillip preached 
 - agam from the same theme, treating it in an entirely dif- 
 ferent way. His audience nearly filled the church, and was 
 evidently deeply impressed. 
 
 In spite of all this. Phillip felt that a certain element 
 in the church had arrayed itself against him. Mr. Winter 
 did not appear at either service. There were several other 
 absences on the part of men who had been constant at- 
 tendants on the Sunday services. He felt, without hearing 
 
 uJ\t ft* *^f ' "^"^ ''"'"^ '^'^ '■" opposition to him; 
 but, with the burden of it beginning to oppress him a little 
 he saw nothing better to do. than to go on with his work 
 as if nothing unusual had taken place. 
 
 Pursuing the plan he had originally mapped out when 
 he came to Milton, he spent much of his time in the after- 
 noons studying the social and civic life of the town- As 
 the first Sunday of the next month drew near, when he 
 was to speak again on the attitude of Christ in respect - 
 to some practices of modern society, he determined to 
 
 rJ, rr !J'. ?. °"' °^ '^' prominent features of mod- 
 em l.fe that would naturally be noticed by Christ and 
 doubtless be denounced by him as a great evil 
 
 In his study of the saloon question he did a thing 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 37 
 
 which he had never done before, and then only after very 
 much deliberation and prayer. He went into the saloons 
 themselves on different occasions. He wanted to know 
 from actual knowledge what sort of places the saloons 
 were. What he saw after a dozen visits to as many dif- 
 ferent groggeries added fuel to the flame of indignation 
 that already burned hot in him. The sight of the vast army 
 of men turning into beasts in these dens created In him a 
 loathing and a hatred of the whole iniquitous institution 
 that language failed to express. He wondered with un- 
 speakable astonishment in his soul that a civilized com- 
 munity in the nineteenth century would tolerate for one 
 moment the public sale of an article that led, on the con- 
 fession of society itself, to countless crimes against the law 
 of the land and of God. His indignant*astonishment deep- 
 ened yet more, if that were possible, when he found that 
 the license of f^e hundred dollars a year for each saloon 
 was used by the town to support its public school system. 
 That, to Phillip's mind, was an awful sarcasm on Christian 
 civilization. It seemed to him like selling a man poison 
 according to law, and then taking the money from the s*le 
 to help the widow to purchase mourning. It was fully dS 
 ghastly as that would be. 
 
 He went to see some of the other ministers, hoping 
 to unite them in a combined attack on the saloon power. 
 It seemed to him that, if-the Church as a whole entered 
 the crusade against the saloon, it could be driven out even 
 from Milton, where it had been so long established. To 
 his surprise he found the other churches unwilling to unite 
 in a public battle against the whiskey men. Several of the 
 ministers openly defended license as the only practicable 
 method of dealing with the saloon. All of them confessed 
 it was evil, and only evil, but under the circumstances 
 ^oyght >t would do little good to agitate the subject. 
 Phillip caiiie away from several interviews with the min- 
 isters, sad and sick at heart. He -was too frank and open- 
 
38 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 hearted himself to see, what was a fact, that some of the 
 
 other preachers were jealous of his popularity, and had 
 
 aken offence because Phillip had drawn away people from 
 
 their own services., especially to his Sunday night meetings. 
 
 He approached several of the prominent men in the 
 
 town, hoping to enlist some of them in the fight against 
 
 the rum power. Here he met with unexpected opposition 
 
 cXnMid' ^' ^'"^ """' anticipated. One prominenJ 
 
 "Mr. Strong, you will ruin your chances here if you 
 attack the saloons in this savage manner; and I'll tell you 
 wiiy : The whiskey mefti hold a tremendous influence in 
 Milton in the matter of political power The ci^y election 
 come. u:i the mid*e of next month. The men up for 
 office are dependent for election on the votes of the saloon 
 t.ien and their following. You will cut your head off sure 
 -yon come out against them in public. Why, there's 
 
 Mf. , and* . and So-and-So " (he named half a 
 
 do.-n men) m your church who are up for office in the 
 coming election. They can't be elected without the votes 
 of the rummies, and they know it. Better steer clear of it 
 
 for oter°fift '"°°" ^'' ^"" " "^""^^ ^^ing in Milton 
 
 for over fifty years; ,t ,s as much a part of the town as the 
 churches or schools; and I tell you it is a powerl'' 
 
 "doll''. ,. -"'^ ^'''"'^' "' ""*'°""^^<* astonishment, 
 do you teJl me, you, a lending citizen of the town o 
 
 80 000 immortal souls, that the saloon power here has its 
 grip to this extent on the civic and social life of the place 
 and you are willing to sit down and let this devil of ? me 
 and ruin throttle you. and not raise a finger to chan^^r 
 expel the monster ? It is impossible! Itl not consfs en 
 with the character of Christian America that such a tatc 
 of affairs ,n our political life should be endured!" 
 
 "Nevertheless." replied the business man. ".».«. „. 
 -crs. And you wiih simply dash your own "nf; ^ 
 
 4.1.- 
 
 tllC 
 
tHE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILtIP STRONG. 
 
 39 
 
 against a wall of solid rock if you try to fight this evil. 
 You have my warning." 
 
 "May I not also have your help!" cried Phillip, hun- 
 gry in his soul for companionship in the struggle which 
 he saw was coming. 
 
 " It would ruin my business to come out against the 
 saloon," replied the man, frankly. 
 
 "And what is that ?" cried Phillip, earnestly. "It has 
 already ruined far more that ought to be dear to you. 
 JJan, man, what are money and business compared with 
 your own flesh and blood ? Do you know where your own 
 son was two nights ago ? In one of the vilest of the vile 
 holes in this city, which you, a father, license to another 
 man to destroy the life of your own child! I saw him 
 there myself; and my heart ached for him and you. Ah, 
 brother, forgive me for wounding you! It is the necessary 
 truth. Will you join with me to wipe out this curse to 
 society ?" 
 
 The merchant trembled and his lips quivered at men- 
 tion of his son, but he replied : 
 
 " I cannot do what yo;: want, Mr. Strong. But you 
 can count on my sympatljy if you make the fight." And 
 Phillip went away, his soul tossed on a wave of mountain 
 proportion-?, which was growing more and more crested 
 with foam and wrath as the first Sunday of the month drew 
 near, and he realized that the battle was one that he must 
 wage single-handed in a town of eighty thousand people. 
 
 He was not so destitute of support as he thought. The'-e 
 were many mothers' hearts in Milton that had ached ana 
 prayed in agony long years that the Almighty would 
 come with his power and sweep the curse away. But 
 Phillip had not been long enough in l\plJlton to know the 
 sentiment of the entire people. He had so far touched only 
 the Church through its reprcsenlaiive pulpits, and a few 
 o! the leading business men, and the result had been almos« 
 
40 THE CRUCIFIXION OP PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 to convince him that very little help could be expected 
 from the publ.c generally. He was appalled to find out 
 what a tremendous hold the whiskey men had on the busi- 
 ness a„d poht.cs of the place. It was a revelation to him 
 
 the blf /T.^°'''""'"^"^' ^"' ^ *""^^^ commentary on 
 the boasted Christianity of the century 
 
 So when he walked into the pulpit the first Sunday of 
 the month he felt his message burning in his heart and on 
 
 t t ifchnsr" '^'°"- '' '''""'' ''^^-^ ^" ^-slion 
 P k ou tn n?" r''°' °' ^^'^"^ ^•'"'•'^h ^« -0"'3 
 And so after the"" '^""•?^-^-" °f the whiskey power. 
 ?nt i : °^^"'"^ P"* °f t'^^ service. Phillip rose 
 
 to peak, facmg an immense audience that o;erflowed the 
 galleries and invaded the pulpit platform. SuThT crowd 
 
 pITuT "'" "■" ^^'^"^ Church before. 
 ftinup had not announced his subiect Km fi,», 
 
 tention. His audiVnr#> fi,:o — «^icu great at- 
 
 So 11 happened ihat Phillip faced , „„i„ „ '' 
 
 audience of. MiUon people aTL '™'^ "»'«'«"'"< 
 
 I'or an hour Phillip sooke as !,» u^a 
 
 all his life before. H^s subiect th "''" '^°'''" '" 
 
 ♦u- ;-. . suDject, the cause it reoresentprl 
 
 "vzr :: r^'ii^r Lvif h" '--" ^^ 
 
 ^hron.h ,he house li.e a SeTe dX^lrrh^^^T; 
 At the close, he spoke of the power nf fl,- rl u 
 pared with that of the sa.oon.T/XweJ h^owtsiH 
 could wm the victory against any kind of eJ^^'ulU 
 Only umtea aiid determined. "'" 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 41 
 
 " Men and women of Milton, fathers, mothers, and 
 citizens," he said, " this evil is one which cannot be driven 
 out unless the Chrisitan people of this place unite to con- 
 demn it, regardless of results. It is too firmly established. 
 It has its clutch on business, the municipal life, and even 
 the Church itself. It is a fact that the Church in Milton 
 has been afraid to take the right stand in this matter. 
 Members of the churches have become involved in the 
 terrible entanglement of the long-established rum power, 
 until to-day you witness a condition of affairs which 
 ought to stir the righteous indignation of every citizen and 
 father. What is it you ere enduring ? An institution which 
 blasts with its poisonous breath every soul that enters it, 
 which ruins young manhood, which kills more citizens in 
 times of peace than the most bloody war ever slew in times 
 ot revolution; an institution thai has not one good thing 
 to commend it; an institution that is established for the 
 open and declared purpose of getting money from the peo- 
 ple by the sale of stuff that creates criminals; an institu- 
 tion that robs the honest workingman of his savings, and 
 looks with «ndiflfereace on the tears of the wife or the sobs 
 of the mother; an Institution that never gives one cent of 
 its enormous wealth to build c'.iurches, colleges, or homes 
 for the needy; an institution that has the brand of the 
 murderer, the Jiarlot, and the gambler burned into it with 
 a brand of the Devil's own forging in the furnace of his 
 hottest hell— this institution so rules and governs this town 
 of Milton to-day that honest citizens tremble before it, busi- 
 ness men dare not oppose it for fear of losing money, 
 chuach members fawn upon it in order to gain place in 
 politics, and ministers of the Gospel confront its hideous 
 insolence, and say nothing! It is high time we faced this 
 monster of iniquity and drove it out of the stfbnghold it 
 has occupied so long. 
 
 i TV"sh you could have gone with me this past week 
 and witnessed some of the sights I have seen. No! I re- 
 
42 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 tract that statement. I would not wish that any father or 
 mother had had the heartache that I have felt as I contem- 
 plated the ruins of young lives crumbling into the decay 
 of premature debility mocking the manhood that God gave 
 them by yielding themselves slaves to their passions and 
 degrading themselves below the beasts that perish. What 
 have I seen ? O ye fathers! O ye mothers! Do you 
 know what is going on in this place of sixty salodns, 
 licensed by your own act and made legal by your own will? 
 Yes, madam, and you, sir, who have covenanted together 
 m the fellowship and disciplesbip of the purest institution 
 of God on earth, who have sat here in front of this pulpit 
 and partaken of the emblems which remind you of your 
 Redeemer, where are your sons, your brothers, your lovers 
 your friends ? They are not here this morning The 
 Chuch has not any hold 6n them. They are growing up 
 to disregard the duties of good citizenship. They are 
 walkmg down the broad avenue of destruction, and what 
 IS this town doing to prevent it ? I have seen young men 
 from what we call the best homes in this town reel in and 
 out of gUded temples of evil, oaths on- their lip* and pas- 
 sion in their looks, and the cry of my soul has gone up 
 to Almighty God that the Church and the Home might 
 combine their mighty force to drive the whiskey demon 
 out s>i our municipal life so that we might never feel the 
 curse again evermore. - 
 
 " I speak to you to-day in the name of my Lord and 
 Master. It is impossible for me to believe that if the 
 Christ of God were- standing here this morning he would 
 advise the licensing of this corruption as the most feasible 
 or expedient method of dealing with it. I cannot imagine 
 him usmg the argument that the saloon must be licensed 
 for the revenue that may be gained from it to support the 
 school system. I cannot imagine Christ taking any other 
 
 position before the whiskey power than thaf nf .,„ 
 
 promising condemnation. He would say it is evil and 
 
THE CRU'ilFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 43 
 
 only evil, and therefore to be opposed by every legal and 
 moral restriction that society could rear against it. In his 
 name, speaking as I believe he would speak if he were 
 here this moment, I solemnly declare the necessity on the 
 pari of every disciple of Christ in every church in Milton 
 of placing himself decidedly and persistently and at once 
 in open battle against the saloon until it is destroyed, until 
 its power in business, politics, and society is a thing of the 
 past, until we have rid ourselves of the foul viper which 
 has so many years trailed its»slimy folds through our 
 homes and our schools. 
 
 " Citizens, Christians, church members, I call on you 
 to-day to take arms against the common foe of all that we 
 hold dear in church, home, and state. I know there are 
 honest business men who have long writhed in secret at 
 the ignominy of the halter about their necks by which 
 they have been led. There are citizens who have the best 
 interests of the community at heart who have hung their 
 heads in shame of American politics, seeing this brutal 
 whiskey element dictating the government of the town, 
 and parcelling out its patronage and managing its funds 
 and enormous stealings of the people's money. I know 
 there are church members who have felt in their hearts the 
 deep shame of bowing the knee to this rum god in order 
 to make advancement in political life. And I call on all 
 these to-da)t.to rise with me and begin a fight against the 
 entire saloon business and whiskey rule in Milton until by 
 the help of the Lord of hosts we have gotten us the vic- 
 tory. Men, women, brothers, sisters- in the great family of 
 God on earth, will you sit tamely down and worship the 
 great beast of this century! Will you not rather gird your 
 swords upon your thighs and go out to battle this blasphe- 
 mous Philistine who has defied the armies of the living 
 God? I have spoken my message. Lei us ask divine wis- 
 dom and power to help us." 
 
44 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 Phillips's prayer was almost painful in its intensity of 
 feeling and expression. The audience sat in deathly 
 silence, and when he pronounced the am n of the bene- 
 diction it was several moments before any one stirred to 
 leave the church. 
 
 Phillip went home completely exhausted by his effort. 
 He had put into his sermon all of himself and had called 
 up all his reserve powei— a thing he was not often guilty 
 of doing, and for which he condemned himself on this 
 occasion. But it was pa»t, and he could not recall it. He 
 was not concerned as to the results of his sermon. He had 
 long believed that if he spoke the message God gave him 
 he was not to grow anxious over the outcome of it. 
 
 But the people of Milton were deeply stirred by the 
 address. They were not accustomed to hear that kind of 
 preaching. And what was more, the whiskey element was 
 roused. It was not accustomed to have its authority at- 
 tacked in that bold, almost savage manner. For years its 
 sway had been undisputed. It had insolently established 
 Itself in power until even those citizens who knew its 
 thoroughly evil character were deceived into the belief that 
 nothmg better than licensing it was possible. The idea 
 that the saloon could be banished, removed, driven out 
 altogether, had never before been advocated in Milton 
 The conviction that it could be and ought to be suppressed 
 had never gained ground with any number of people. They 
 had endured it as a necessary evil. Phillip's sermon there- 
 fore fell something like a bomb into the whisl:ey camp. 
 Before night the report of the sermon had spread all over 
 the town. The wloon men were enraged. Ordinarily 
 they would have paid no attention to anything a church 
 or a preacher might say or do. But Phillip spoke from the 
 pulpit of the largest church in Milton. The whiskey men 
 knew that if the large churches should all unite to fiahf 
 them they would make matters very uncomfortable for 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 45 
 
 them, and in the end probably drive them out. Phillip 
 went home that Sunday night after the evening service 
 with several bitter enemies. The whiskey men constituted 
 one element. Some of his own church members made up 
 another. He had struck again at the same sore spot which 
 he had wounded the month before. In his attack on the 
 saloon as an institution he had again necessarily con- 
 demned all those members of his church who rented pro- 
 perty to the whiskey element or had dealings with them in 
 business. Again, as a month ago, these property holders 
 went from the hearing of Phillip's sermon angry that they 
 as well as the saloon power were under indictment. 
 
 As Phillip entered o: the week's work after that event- 
 ful sermon of the first of the month he began to feel the 
 pressure of public feeling against him. He began to realize 
 the bitterness of championing a just cause alone. He felt 
 the burden of the community's sin in the matter, and more 
 than once he felt obliged to come in from his parish work 
 and go up into his study there to commune with his Father. 
 He was growing old very fast during these first few weeks 
 in his new parish. 
 
 Tuesday evening of that week Phillip had been writing 
 a little while in his study, where he had gone immedi- 
 ately after supper. It was nearly eight o'clock when he 
 happened to xemember that he had promised a sick child 
 m the home of one of his parishioners that he would come 
 and see him that very day. 
 
 He came downstairs, put on his ftat and overcoat, and 
 told his wife where he w'as going. 
 
 "It's not far. I shall be back in about half an hour 
 Sarah." 
 
 He went out, and his wife held the door open until he 
 was down the steps. She was just on the point of shutting 
 the door as Phillip started down the walk of the street, 
 
 "«• 's-^'' '««K uuc Close oy. oi,e screamed 
 
 and flung the door open again, as by the light of the street 
 
46 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 lamp she saw Phillip stagger and then leap into the street 
 toward an elm tree which grew almost opposite the par- 
 sonage. When he was about in the middle of the street 
 the minister's wife was horrified to see a man step oul 
 boldly from behind the tree, raise a gun, and deliberately 
 fire at Phillip again. This time Phillip fell and did not 
 rise. His tall form lay where the rays of the street lamp 
 shone on it, and he had fallen so that as his arms stretched 
 out there he made the figure of a huge and prostrate cross. 
 
:et 
 
 ir- 
 ct 
 ut 
 ly 
 
 ot 
 
 «p 
 
 s. 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 47 
 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 As people waked up in Milton the Wednesday morning 
 after the shooting of Phillip Strong they grew conscious 
 of the fact, as the news came to their knowledge, that they 
 liad been nursing for fifty years one of the most brutal and 
 cowardly institutions on earth, and licensing it to do the 
 very thing which at last it had done. For the time being 
 Milton suflFered a genuine shock. Long pent-up feeling 
 against the whiskey power burst out. and public sentiment 
 for once condemned the source of the cowardly attempt 
 to murder. 
 
 Various rumors were flying about ' wa: .id that Mr 
 Strong had been stabbed in the L..k while out making 
 parish calls m company^with Ims wife, and that she had 
 ^hl^ PW^^"^\^l * P'^*«'-'''^°^ herself. It was also said 
 
 ^uJ T. n u"" '^°* ^'^^ '"^'^ '^^ '^^"t ^"d instantly 
 killed. But all these conf„ced reports were finally set at 
 
 cxact''lu"th ""'"^ "' '"' ^'"°""^' '''°"^''' ^^^y '^' 
 
 struTtVh-n-''?"','^'" ^' '^' '"'" ^'■°'" ^'^'^''^ *he tree 
 tut K, "^ '"*''' ^"''- ''"^ '^' ^=^" 8>«""d off. Phillip 
 nl • .J°![' . ^*^8:gered, but his next impulse was to 
 rush ,„ the direction of the sound and disarm his assailant. 
 That was the reason he had leaped into the street. But 
 
 ntVhU ""' ''"''■ ''"''^' ^"^ the-bullet crashed 
 
 mto his upper arm and shoulder, shattering the bone and 
 proQ x.^g an exceedingly painful though not fatal wound, 
 fninln '*'°'=\""^^d Phillip to fall as if dead, and he 
 
 lr'..r!I'.'"l"°! ^^^°- *^.« ^-e o^ the man who had 
 .. „. — -—.-.V . ...ipcU on his mind. He knew 
 
 that „e was one of the saloon proprietors whose establLh 
 
48 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 ment Phillip had visited the week before. He was a man 
 with a hair-lip, and there was no mistaking his counten- 
 ance. 
 
 When the people of Milton learned that Phillip was 
 not fatally wounded their excitement cooled a little A 
 wave of indignation, however, swept over the town when 
 It was learned that the would-be murderer was recognized 
 by the mmister, and it was rumored that he had openly 
 threatened that he would "fix the cursed preacher so that 
 he would not be able to preach agairi." 
 
 Phillip, however, felt more full of figiu against the 
 great rum-devil than ever. AS he lay on the bed the morn- 
 ing after the shooting he had nothing to regret or fear. 
 The surgeon had been called at once, as soon as his wife 
 and the alarmed neighbors had been able to carry him into 
 the parsonage. The ball had been removed and the wounds 
 dressed. By noon Phillip had recovered somewhat from 
 the effects of the operation and was resting, although very 
 weak from the shock and suffering considerable pain. 
 
 What ,s that stain on the floor, Sarah" he asked as 
 h!s wife came in with some article for his comfort. Phillip 
 lay where he could see into the other room. 
 sh..HH " r^^'^^^od, Phillip," replied his wife, with a 
 
 w carried "'/"^ ' '''''"" ^^°" ^°"^ ^''-'d- 
 as we earned you m last night. Oh, Phillip, it is dread- 
 
 ul! It seems to me like an awful nightmare. Let us move 
 
 stThe'r ^ '"""' ^'"^- ^°" ^"' ^«^ '^'"^^ "- 
 
 "There isn't much dange? if the rest of 'em are as poor 
 shots as ,his fellow." replied Phillip. " Now. , ttle 'wo 
 man. he went on. cheerfully, "don't worry. I don't be- 
 Iteve they'll try it again." 
 
 Mrs Strong controlled herself. She did not want to 
 break down while Phillip was in his present cond'on 
 
 You must not talk," she said as she « .u^ n- 
 
 hair back from the pale forehead. ' 
 
 
 ' .. 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OP PHILLIP StRONG. 49 
 
 ■siimxsimm. 
 
 <;»r"w**i ^""^ ^"** °" * preacher, don't you think. 
 aarah ? My occupation is gone if I can't talk." 
 
 "Then I'll talk for two. They say that most women 
 can do it 
 
 " Will you preach for me next Sunday ?" 
 "What, and make myself a target for saloon-keepers > 
 No. thank you. I have half a mind to forbid you ever 
 preachmg again. It will be the death of you " 
 
 hJ!^\u '^^ "1* °^ '"^' ^"^''- ^ ^°"'d "°t ask anything 
 
 all r72 t'° ^^ "'n *'' '^'"°'" °"' ««h*'"« -"• Well 
 all nght. I won't talk any more. I suppose there's no 
 objection to my thinking a little ?" 
 
 " Thinking is the worst thing you can do. You just 
 want to he there and do nothing but get well." 
 
 "All right. I'll quit everything except eating and sleep- 
 «ng. Put up a little placard on the head of the bed saying 
 Biggest curiosity in Milton! A live minister who has 
 stopped thinking and talking! Admission ten cents Pro- 
 ceeds to be devoted to teach saloon-keepers how to shoot 
 r/if *; ^'"'^ """' '*'" somewhat under the influence 
 t°hU I ?'' ^"^"^hetic. .Id as he faintly murmured 
 
 e!tr!f '". r' ^' ^'" '"'° ^ ^'"'"»'" ^hich lasted 
 
 several hours, from which he awoke very feeble and 
 realizing thar he would be confined to the house Xera' 
 
 lent; 'rJ"""' " "°°' '''"'' ^"^ *»'-'^^"' -t of the 
 depths of his vigorous nature that he was still spared to 
 do God's will on earth. 
 
 The next day he felt strong enough to receive a few 
 visitors. Among them was the chief of police, who came 
 to inquire concerning the identity of the man who had 
 done the shooting. Phillip showed some reluctance to 
 witness against his enemy. It was only when he remem- 
 bered that he owed a duty to society as well a, *« u;^.^]c 
 
 ^ffL^l **""''''^*''* '"^» »"d related minutely the entire 
 affair exactly as it occurred. 
 
■|; 
 
 
 1 
 
 !."■■ ■ ' 
 
 \ 
 
 i 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 . t ■ 
 
 J 
 
 ,/ .y 
 
 ~!-| 
 
 1 
 
 f 
 
 V 
 
 1; 
 1 l> 
 
 -. 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 SO THE CRUCIFIXJON OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 "Is the man in town ?" asked Phillip. "Has he not 
 fled ?" 
 
 "I think I know where he is," replied the officer. 
 " He is hiding, but I can fird him. In fact we have been 
 hunting for him since the shooting. He is wanted on sev- 
 eral other charges." 
 
 Phillip was pondering something in silence. At last he 
 said : 
 
 " When you have arrested him I wish you would bring 
 him here if it can be done without violating any ordinance 
 or statute." 
 
 The officer stared at aie,,request, and the minister's 
 wife exclaimed, " Phillip, you will not have that man come 
 Kito the house! Besides, you are not well enough tb endure 
 a meeting with the wretch!" 
 
 " Sarah, I have a good reason for it. Really, I am well 
 enough. I'ou will bring him, won't you ? I do not wish 
 to make any mistake in the matter. Before the man is 
 really confined under a criminal charge of attempt to mur- 
 der I should like to confront him here. There can be no 
 objection to that, can there ?" 
 
 The officer promised that, if he could do so without 
 attracting too much attention, he would comply with 
 Phillip's request. It was a thing he had never done before; 
 he was not quite ,easy in his mind about it. Nevertheless! 
 Philhp exercised a winning influence over all sorts and 
 conditions of men, and he felt quite sure that, if the officer 
 could arrest his man quietly, he would bring him to the 
 parsonage. 
 
 This was Thursday night. The next evening, just after 
 dark the bell rang, and one of the church members who 
 had been staying with Mrs. Strong during the day went 
 to the door. There stood two men. One of them was 
 the chief of police. He inquired how the minister was 
 and said that he had a man with him whom the minister 
 n"as aiixjotjs to see. 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 5I 
 
 Phillip heard them talking and guessed who they were, 
 -ie sent his wife out to have the men come in. The officer 
 with his man came into the bedroom where Phillip lay. still 
 
 weak and suflfering, but at his request propped up a little 
 
 with pillows. 
 
 " Well, Mr. Strong. I have got the man and here he is " 
 said the officer, wondering what Phillip could want of him. 
 I ran him down in the 'crow's neSt' below the mills, and 
 we popped him into a hack and drove right up here with 
 him. And a pretty sweet specimen he is. I can tell you ! 
 Take off your hat r- ^ 'h die gentleman have another look 
 at the brave chap .red at him in ambush!" 
 
 n, 7l°5l"" '^. " ""'°'* '''■"^^"y' fo'-getting for a mo- 
 ment that the prisoner's hands were .manacled; remembei^ 
 
 Plfiir T r'f 'f ''"'' ^^ P""'^ °^ '^^ '"^"'« I^^t. while 
 Phillip looked calmly at the features. Yes. it was the same 
 
 hideous, brutal face, with the hair-lip, which had shown up 
 n the rays of the street-lamp that night; there was no mi., 
 taking it for any other, 
 
 "Why did you want to kill me?" asked Phillip, after a 
 Significant pause. " I never did you any harm." 
 
 I would like to kill all the cursed preachers," replied 
 tne man, hoarsely. 
 
 me."d?you7''''' '"''"' '"''* ''^^ "'" '^' «""" ^''^ fi'-«<l «t 
 
 to Z ?°"p' x"/"' '"^*^'"«- ^^^' '^^ y°" w«"t to talk 
 o me for ? Take me to the lock-up if you're going to'" 
 
 "T-n" n'''^''^ ^""'y- *"•■"'"« to the officer. 
 Phi hp! cried his wife, turning to him with a gesture 
 
 thisTa^ ""' '''"" '"'^- '' "•" '^ - ^-^^ *°'«>k to 
 Phillip raised his left hand in a gesture toward the man 
 that made everyone m the room feel a little awed. The 
 officer, m speaking of it afterward, said : " I tell vn,. K«.. 
 
 cJl^' ''". "*""' '^' ""'"• *^"P* °"<=«^' when' the' old 
 Catholic priest stepped up on the platform with old 
 
52 THE CRUCIFIXIO , OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 man Gower time he was hanged at Millville. Somehow 
 then I felt as if, when the priest raised his hand and began 
 to say his prayer, maybe we might all be glad to have some 
 one pray for us if we got into a tight place." * 
 
 Phillip spoke directly to the man, whose look fell be- 
 neath that of the minister. 
 
 ' You know well enough that you are the man who 
 shot me Tuesday night. I know you are the man, for I saw 
 your lace very plainly by the light of the street lamp. 
 Now, all that I wanted to see you here or before you were 
 taken to jail was to let you know that I do not bear any 
 hatred against you. The act you have committed is against 
 the law of God and man. The injury you have inflicted 
 ifeamst n,e is very slight compared with that against yoiir 
 own soul. O my brother man, why should you try to harm 
 me because I denounced your business ? Do you not know 
 m your heart of hearts that the saloon is so evil in its 
 effects that a man who loves his home and his country must 
 speak out against it ? And yet I love you; that is possible 
 because you are human. O my father," Phillip continued, 
 changmg his appeal to the man, by an almost natural man- 
 ner, mto a petition to the Infinite, "make this soul, dear 
 to thee, to behold thy love for him, and make him see 
 that It IS not against me, a man merely, that he has sinned 
 but against thyself-against thy purity and holiness and 
 affection. O, my God, thou who didst come in the like- 
 ness of sinful man to seek and save that which was lost 
 stretch out arms of thy salvation now to this child and save 
 him from himself, from his own disbelief, or hatred of me 
 or of what I have said. Thou art all-merciful and all- 
 oving. We leave all souls of men in the protecting, en- 
 folding embrace of thy boundless compassion, of inhnite 
 grace. 
 
 »i ^ouM..'"" .*. """""'"^ ""^ *"*'''^ *»"'«* «" tJ'e "-oom, and 
 then PhilliD said faintlv: « .«;ara>. i -.,...,..* ^ . 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 53 
 
 tell the man I bear him no hatred, and commend him to 
 the love of God." 
 
 Mrs. Strong was alarmed at Phillip's appearance. The 
 scene had been too much for his strength. She hastily 
 commanded the officer to take his prisoner away, and with 
 the help of her friend cared for the minister, who, after 
 the first faintness, rallied, and then gradually sank into 
 sleep that proved more refreshing than any he had yet en- 
 joyed since the night of the shooting. "^ 
 
 The next day found Phillip improving more rapidly 
 than Mrs. Strong had thought possible. She forbade him 
 the sight of all callers, however, and insisted that he must 
 keep quiet. His wounds were healing satisfactorily, and 
 when the surgeon called, he expressed himself much 
 pleased with his patient's appearance. 
 
 " Say, doctor, do you really think it would set me back 
 any to think a liftle ?" 
 
 " No. I never heard of thinking hurting most people; 
 I have generally considered it a healthy habit." 
 
 " The reason I asked," continued Phillip, gravely, " was 
 that my wife absolutely forbade it. and I was wondering 
 h6w long I could keep it up and fool anybody." 
 
 "That's a specimen of his stubbornness, doctor," said 
 the minister's wife, smilingly. "Why, only a few minutes 
 before you came in he was insisting that he could preach 
 to-morrow. Think of that!-a man with a shattered shoul- 
 der, who would have to stand on one leg and do all hi' 
 gesturing with his left hand ! A man who can't preach 
 without the use of seven or eight arms, and as many 
 pockets, and has to walk up and down the platform like a 
 hon when he gets started in on his delivery I And yet he 
 wants to preach to-morrow ! He's so stubborn that I 
 don t know that I can keep him at home. You had better 
 cave some powders to put him to sleep, and we will kt jp 
 him m a state of unconsciousness until Monda" irsnrr.ln-" 
 • Now. doctor, lust listen to me a while. Mrs. Strong 
 
I, 
 
 54 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 IS talking for two women, as she agreed to do, and that 
 puts me in a hard position. But I want to know how soon 
 I can get to work again" 
 
 " You will have to lie there a month," said the doctor, 
 bluntly. 
 
 "Impossible! I never lay that time in my Hfe!" said 
 Phillip, soberly. 
 
 " It would serve him right to perform a surgical opf a- 
 tion on him for that, wouldn't it, Mrs. Strong ? " the sur- 
 geon appealed to her. 
 
 " I think he deserves the worst you can do, doctor." 
 
 " But say, dear people, I ca..'t stay here a month. I must 
 be about my Master's businfe'ss. What will the church do 
 for supplies ?*" 
 
 " Don't worry, Phillip. The church will take care of 
 that." 
 
 But Phillip was already eager to g* to work. Only 
 the assurance of the surgeon that he might possibly get 
 out in a little over three weeks satisfied him. Sunday came 
 and passed. Someone from a neighboring town who hap- 
 pened to be visiting in Milton occupied the pulpit, and 
 Phillip had a quiet, restful day. He started in with the 
 week determined to beat the doctor's time for recovery; 
 and having a remarkably strong constitution and a tre- 
 mendous will, he bade fair to be limping about the house 
 in two weeks. His shoulder wound healed very fast. His 
 knee bothered him and it seemed likely that he would go 
 lame for a long time. But he was not concerned about that 
 if only he could go about in any sort of fashion once more. 
 Wednesday of that week he was surprised in an unex- 
 pected manner by an event which did more than anything 
 else to hasten his recovery. He was still confined to bed 
 downstairs when in the afternoon the bell rang, and Mrs. 
 Strong went to the door, supposing it was one of the 
 church people come to enquire about the minister. She 
 
 " " «^^MiT.c, riiunps oia coiiege chr n and 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 55 
 
 Seminary classmate. And in answer to his eager enquiry 
 concerning Phillip's condition, Mrs. Strong welcomed him 
 heartily, as she brought him into Phillip's room, knowing 
 her patient quite well enough to fcil sure the sight of his 
 old chum would do him more good than harm. The first 
 thing that Alfred said was: 
 
 " Old man, I hardly expected to see you again this side 
 of heaven. How does it happen that you are alive here 
 after all the times the papers had you killed ? " 
 
 " Bad marksmanship, principally. I used to think I was 
 a big man. But after the shooting I came to the conclu- 
 sion that I must be rather small." 
 
 "Your heart is so big it's a wonder to me that you 
 weren't shot through it, no matter where you were hit. 
 But I tell you it seems good to see you in the flesh once 
 more." 
 
 " Why didn't you come and- preach for me last Sun- 
 day ? " said Phillip, quizzically. 
 
 " Why, haven't you heard ? 1 did not get news of this 
 affair until last Saturday in my far Western parish, and I 
 was just in the throes of packing up to come on to Elm- 
 dale." 
 
 " Elmdale ? " 
 
 " Yes, I've had a call there. So we shall be near neigh- 
 bors. Mrs. Burke is up there now getting the house 
 straightened out, and I came right off down here." 
 
 " So you are pastor of the Chapel Hill Church ? It's 
 a splendid op^-ning for a young preacher. Congratula- 
 tions, Alfred." 
 
 "Thank you, Phillip. By the way, I saw by the paper 
 that you had declined a call to Elmdale, so I suppose they 
 pitched on me for a second choice. You never wrote me 
 of their call to you," he said, a little reproachfully 
 
 'It didn't occur to me," replied Phillip, truthfully. 
 
 rJUt now are vnu crninn t^ i:t,- .'i. n T ,. .. 
 
 old place ? ' 
 
 
S6 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 " Yes, I suspect it is, compared with Milton. I suppose 
 you couldn't live without the excitement of dodging assas- 
 sins and murderers every time you go out to prayer meet- 
 ing or parish calls. How do you like your work so far?" 
 
 " There is plenty of it," answered Phillip, gravely. "A 
 minister must be made of cast-iron and fire-brick in order 
 to stand the wear and tear of these times in which we live. 
 I'd like a week to trade ideas with you and talk over the 
 work, Alfred." 
 
 " You'd get the worst of the bargain." 
 " I don't know about that. I'm not doing anything 
 lately. But say, we're going to be only fifty miles apart; 
 what's to hinder an e:^charige once in a while ? " 
 
 "I'm agreeable to that," replied Phillip's chum; "on 
 condition, however, that you furnish me with a gun and 
 pay all surgeons' bills when I occupy your pulpit." 
 
 " Done," said Phillip, with a grin; and just then Mrs, 
 Strong forbade any more talk. Alfred stayed until the 
 evening train, and when he left he stooped down and kissed 
 Phillip's cheek. "It's a custom we learned when we were 
 in the German universities together that summer after col- 
 lege, you know," he explained with the slightest possible 
 blush when Mrs. Strong came in and caught him in the 
 act. It seemed to her, however, like an affecting thing that 
 two big, grown-up men like her husband and his old chum 
 showed such tender affection for each other. The love of 
 men for men in the strong friendship of school and col 
 l<:ge life is one of the marks of human divinity. 
 
 In spite of his determmation to get out and occupy his 
 pulpit the first Sunday of the next month, Phillip was re- 
 luctantly obliged to let five Sundays go by before he was 
 able to preach. During those six weeks his attention was 
 cjvlled to a subject which he felt ght to be made the 
 theme of one of his talks on Christ and Modern Society. 
 The leisure which he had for reading opened his eyes to 
 
 the fact that th^ Rahhutu ;.i vr:if»~ ,..,- ^ -.t-i ■, . . 
 
 - .!._ ,.i^.n rraa tci Tiuiy acsccraica. 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 57 
 
 Shops of all kinds stood wide open. Excursion trains ran 
 into the large city forty miles away, two theatres were 
 always running with some variety show, and the saloons, 
 in violation of an ordinance forbidding it, unblushingly 
 flung their doors open and did more business on that day 
 than any other. As Phillip read the papers he noticed 
 that every Monday morning the police court was more 
 crowded with " drunks " and " disorderlies " than on any 
 other day in the week, and the plain "cause of it was the 
 abuse of the day before. In the summer time baseball 
 games were played in Milton on Sunday. In the fall and 
 winter very many people spent their evenings in card-play- 
 ing or aimlessly strolling up and down the main street. 
 These facts came to Phillip's knowledge gradually, and he 
 was not long in making up his mind that Christ y»rould 
 not keep silent before the facts. So he carefully prepared 
 a plain statement of his belief in Christ's standing on the 
 modern use of Sunday, and as on other occasions when 
 he had spoken the first Sunday in the month, he cast out 
 of his reckoning all thought of the consequences. His 
 one purpose was to do just as in his thought Christ would 
 do with that subject. 
 
 The people in Milton thought that the first Sunda} 
 Philtip appeared in his pulpit he would naturally denounce 
 the saloon agaiji. But when he finally recovered suffi- 
 citntly to preach again he determined that for a while he 
 would say nothing in the way of sermons against the 
 whiskey evil. He had a great horror of seeming to ride r 
 hobby, or being a man of one idea and making people 
 tired of him because he harped on one string. He had 
 uttered his denunciation and he would wait a little before 
 l)o spoke again. The whiskey power was not the only 
 bad thing in Milton that needed to be attacked. There 
 were other things which must be said. And so Phillip 
 limped into his pulpit the third Sunday of the month zn({ 
 preached on a general theme, to the disappointment of a 
 
S8 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 great crowd, almost as large as the last one he had faced. 
 And yet his very appearance was a sermon in itself against 
 the institution he had held up to public condemnation on 
 that occasion. His knee wound proved very stubborn, and 
 he limped badly. That in itself spoke eloquently of the 
 dastardly attempt on his life. His face was pale and he had 
 grown thin. His shoulder was stiff and the enforced quiet- 
 ness of his delivery contrasted strangely with his custom- 
 aiy fiery appearance on the platform. Altogether that first 
 Sunday of his reappearance in his pulpit was a stronger 
 sermon against the saloon than anything he could have 
 spoken or written. ,, * 
 
 When the first Sunday in the next month came on 
 Fhilhp was more like his old self. He had gathered 
 strength enough to go around two Sunday afternoons and 
 note for himself the desecration of the day as it went on 
 •recklessly. As he saw it all. it seemed to him that the 
 church m Milton was practically doing nothing to stop 
 the evil. All the ministers complained of the difficulty of 
 gcttmg an evening congregation. Yet hundreds of young 
 people walked past the churches every Sunday -ght bent 
 on pleasure, going to the theatres or concerts or parties 
 v;h.ch seemed to have no trouble in attracting the crowd 
 'Fspecally was this true of the foreign population, the 
 workmg element connected with the mills. It was a co. i- 
 nion occurrence for dog fights, cock fights, and shooting 
 n.atches of various kinds to be going on in the tenement 
 •d.stnct on Sunday, and the police seemed powerless or 
 careless in the matter. 
 
 All this burned into Phillip like molten metal, and when 
 he faced his people on the Sunday already becoming a 
 noted Sunday for them, he quivered with the earnestness 
 and thrill that always come to a sensitive man when he 
 feels sure he has a sermon which must be preached and a 
 message which the people must hear for their lives. 
 
 He look for a text Christ's words, " The Sabbath was 
 
 
!&iil!i-'scms-'2i^ 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 59 
 
 
 made for man," and at once defined its meaning as a spe- 
 cial day. 
 
 "The true meaning of our modern Sunday may be 
 summed up in two words, Rest and Worship. Under the 
 head of Rest m.iy be gathered whatever is needed for the 
 people, and healthful recuperation of one's physical and 
 mental powers, always regarding, not simply our own 
 tase and comfort, but also the same right to rest on the 
 part of the remainder of the community. Under the head 
 of Worship may be gathered all those acts which either 
 through distinct religious service or work tend to bring 
 men mto closer and dearer relation to spiritual life, to 
 teach men larger, sweeter truths of existence, and leave 
 them better fitted to take up the duties of every-day 
 busmess. 
 
 " Now, it is plain to me that if Christ were here to-day 
 and pastor of Calvary Church, he would feel compelled to 
 say some very plain words about the desecration of the 
 Sabbath in Milton. Take, for example, the opening of the 
 fruit stands and cigar stores and meat markets every Sun- 
 day morning. What is the one reason why these places 
 are open this very minute while I am speaking ? There is 
 only one reason-in order that the owners of these places 
 may sell their goods and make money. They are not satis- 
 fied with what -they can make in six days. Their greed 
 seizes on the one day which ought to be used for the rest 
 and worship men need, and turns that also into a day of 
 merchandise. Do we need any other fact to convince us 
 of the terrible selfishness of the human heart ? 
 
 " Or take the case of the saloons. What right have 
 they to open their doors in direct contradiction to the 
 town ordinance forbidding it ? And yet this ordinance is 
 held by them in such contempt that this very morning as 
 I came to thi, church I passed more than half a dozen of 
 
 these liertinna nt U^U „.:j- i^ ■ _ _ 
 
 , . * " ""' "' "■"^^ ■■jy^-i ro ai.y poor Miming soul 
 
 that might be enticed to enter. Citizens of Milton, where 
 
60 THt CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 does the responsibility for this violation of law rest ? 
 
 whLf. r '^''' ^'*' "'^ ''"^^ "* ^?f«'-«d by them, 
 while the business men and the police lazily dodge the 
 
 rh^:;Jresr; '^^^ '^^ --"-•---« none 
 
 voLTtZT "^^^ '"' '^' '''°""^ ''' ^'y°^^ yo^-- 
 
 power. That does not release you from doing what is in 
 your power, eas.ly, to prevent this day from being trampled 
 under foot and made like every other day in its scramble 
 
 1ZZ7 '"V ""''• ^^" °^" ^'^"'^ f--"'' ^^o--" «"d 
 cigar stands and meat markets, and who patronize them ? 
 
 11 T ''"\'^^' '^''''^ ""'"'^''^ encourage all these 
 places by purchasmg of them on the Lord's Day ? I have 
 
 talked lately that among his best customers on Sunday are 
 
 some of the most respected members of this church. It has 
 
 also been told me that in the summer time the heaviest 
 
 patronage of the Sunday ice-cream buinesss is from the 
 
 church members of Milton. Of what value is it that we 
 
 place on our ordinance laws forbidding the sale of these 
 
 thmgs on Sunday, and then violate the statute by buying 
 
 he very th.ngs covered by the law ? How far are we re 
 
 sponsible by our example for encouraging the breaking of 
 
 the day on the part of those who would find it unprofit- 
 
 o?th m ^'^.v ; '?'""^ «°'"« 'f "«= ^'d "°t P"^-hase 
 ot them on this day ? 
 
 " It is possible there are very many persons here in this 
 house this morning who are ready to exclaim, 'This is 
 intolerable bigotry and puritanical narrowness. This is 
 not the attitude Christ would take on this question He 
 was 'too large-minded. He was too far advanced in 
 thought to make the day mean anything of that sort ' 
 
 " But let us consider what is meant by tfie Sunday of 
 our modern life as Thricf »f/\»i,i ,.:-_. ;* »r.i. . . 
 
 putmg the fact that the age is material, mercantile, money- 
 
 
 f 
 
^ 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 6l 
 
 making. For six feverish, eager, rushing days it is ab- 
 sorbed in the pursuit of money or fame or pleasure. Then 
 God strikes the note of his silence in among the clashing 
 sounds of earth'/ Babel and calls mankind *r n. hf a day 
 unhke the other days. It is his mercifu' thouBi.;.) iJness 
 for the race which has created this speci 1 uy tor aen 
 Is It too much to ask that on this one d^ ..„ tliir k of 
 something else besides politics, stocks, bus ..nuse- 
 
 ment ? Is God grudging the man the pleasure .A life when 
 He givec the man six days for labor and then asks for only 
 one day specially set apart for him ? The objection to very 
 many things commonly mentioned by the pulpit as harm- 
 tul to Sunday is not necessarily based upon the harmful- 
 ness of the things themselves, but upon the fact that these 
 things are repetitions of the working day, and so are dis- 
 InH w . °b«ervance of the Sunday as a day of Rest 
 and Worship, undisturbed by the things that have already 
 
 trltlT """^^'^ *^' *''°"^'" °' •"'"• ^'' """ '""^- 
 
 " Take, for example, the case of the Sunday paper, as 
 >t pours into Milton every Sunday morning on the special 
 newspaper train. Now, there may not be anything in the 
 contents of these Sunday papers that is any worse than can 
 be found in any week-day edition. Granted, for the sake 
 of the illustration, that the matter found in the Sunday 
 paper is just like that in the Saturday issue-politics 
 fashion, locals, personals, dramatic and sporting news 
 hterary articles by well-known writers, a serial story' ' 
 police record, crime, accident, fatality, etc., anywhere from 
 twenty to forty or sixty pages-an amount of reading mat- 
 ter that will take the average man a whole forenoon to 
 read. I say, granted that all this vast quantity of material 
 IS harmless in itself to moral life, yet here is the reason why 
 It seems to me Christ would, as I am doing now uA.iL 
 Uns cnurch and the people of Milton to avoid reading the 
 Sunday paper, because it forces upon the thought of the 
 
62 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 community the very same things which have been crowd- 
 ing in upon it all week, and in doing this necessarily dis- 
 tracts the man's thoughts, and makes the elevation of his 
 spiritual nature exceedingly doubtful or difficult. I defy 
 any preacher in this town to make much impression on 
 the average man who has come to church saturated 
 through and through with sixty pages of Sunday news- 
 paper, that is, supposing the man who has read that much 
 IS in a frame of mind to go to church. But that is not the 
 poi.it. It is not a question of press versus pulpit The 
 press and the pulpit are units of our modern life which 
 ought to work hand in h?nd. And the mere matter of 
 church attendance might not count, if it were a question 
 with the average man whether he Would gc .to church and 
 hear a dull sermon or stay at home and read an interesting 
 
 the day of Res* and Worship shall be like every other 
 day; whether we shall let our minds go right on as they 
 
 Milton the occurrence of baseball games and Sunday rac- 
 ingr and evening tlreaters ? How far is all this demoral 
 
 ;s T T '^'''^ ''^ ' "^^^^ -ouM Christ say, dr;ou 
 
 t«kA^ I" rPP°^'"K he would advise this church to 
 Sund^ . ' •'' f ''^ ^""''^^ P^P^*- -"t '" on the special 
 
 say Vwa^ j ^"".t' "■""'^'^' *^*^" ^"^P° "« he would 
 
 these thi„« P^^ r^'^ P^oP*"- ^or churcn nembers to buy 
 these things on that day, what would Christ say was the 
 real purpose of this day in the thought o the D v ne 
 Creator when he made the day for man ? 
 
 ty.l ' . ?*";°*/°"">'^« th.. he would say anything less 
 than this to the people of this town and this church: he 
 would say it is our duty to make this day different from all 
 ••.:.=i uays m rhe ivio paraculars of Rest and Worship. 
 
TBE CRUCIFIXION. OF PHILLIP STRONG. 63 
 He would say that we' owe it to the Father of our souls in 
 
 IZTu T''^^' '"'• "'^ "'^^^^ '«- towards u that we 
 spend the day ,n ways pleasing to Him. He would say that 
 
 tlTS^r:! ^'^?"'°" °^ °"^ '^'"^ shouldTudVhow 
 world and tha.' T' '"'' ''" *° *'^ workingman of the 
 world, and that all unnecessary carrying of passengers or 
 merchand.se should stop, so as to give all merff pos 
 s.ble every seven days, one whole day of res'td com 
 mumon wth something better than the things that pS 
 with the usmg. He would say that the Church and 1 1 
 church member and the Christian everywhere should do 
 
 r Irul a„^"'V; ""'" *'^ '^^ ^ ^'''^' P°--f"'. -efui° 
 restful anticipated twenty-four hours, looked forward to 
 with pleasant longing by little childre'n and laborinrmen 
 
 ^hem "" "'' '''''' "^ ""^'^ ^« the one day oral" 
 An/ ;^^^'"' '"^ '^^* ^^""^^ <Jiff««nt in L use 
 And so different should this day be that when Monday's 
 
 auserLs "".'"^.^ ''''''''' '" '^'y -^ •" -"be! 
 
 truggL ft bT, \T "'"= '" *'^ '"^^ -hirl of his 
 struggje for bread and fame, and has fellowshioned wifh 
 heavenly things, and heard something divine Tan Tl^t 
 jangling discords of this narrow, selfisf earth '" 
 
 then ulalVctvtd^ls'rbtlt- '^^"^^ T "^"°-"-' 
 teenth century. Bu;i:;?of::r^^^^^^ 
 
 have said. He would ^^.lu. "' ^°"^^ ^^^ ^^'^^ I 
 
 business or ,h. .v.„,s oTrtelrid" ""u "''''''■' "' 
 
 ^™(|W' 
 
64 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 better acquainted with the nature of God and ita own 
 eternal destiny. If Christ would not take that view of this 
 great question, then I have totally misconceived and mis- 
 understood His character. 'The Sabbath was made for 
 man.' It was made for him that he might make of it a 
 shining jewel in the string of pearls which should adorn all 
 the days of the week, every day speaking of divine things 
 to the man, but Sunday opening up the beauty and gran- 
 deur of the eternal life a little wider yet. 
 
 "This, dear friends all, has been my message to you 
 this morning. May God forgive whatever has been spoken 
 contrary to the heart and st)irit of our dear Lord." 
 
 If Phillip's sermon two months, before had made him 
 enemies, this sermon made him even more. He had un- 
 consciously this time struck two of his members very 
 hard. One of them was part owner in a meat market 
 which his partner kept open on Sunday. The other leased 
 one of the parks where the baseball games had been play- 
 ed. Other persons in the congregation felt more or less 
 hurt by the plain way Phillip spoke— especially the mem- 
 bers who took and read the Sunday paper. They went 
 away feeling that7 while much that he said was true, there 
 was too much strictness in the minister's view of the whole 
 subject. This feeling grew as days went on. People said 
 Phillip did not know all the facts in regard to people's 
 business and the complications which necessitated Sunday 
 work, and so forth. 
 
 These were the beginnings of troublous times for Phil- 
 lip. The trial of the saloon-keeper was coming on in a 
 few days and Phillip would be called to witness in the case. 
 He dreaded it with a nervous dread peculiar to his sensi- 
 tive temper. Nevertheless, he went on with his church 
 work, studying the problem of the town, endearing himself 
 to very many in and out of his church by his manly cour- 
 ageous life, and feeling the heartache in him grow as the 
 sin bin den oi the place weighed heavier on him. These 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 65 
 
 were days when Phillip did much praying, and his regular 
 P^each.„g. which grew in power with'J'common "eopt 
 told the story of his night vigils with the Christ ^ addid 
 cur d'whic'J ^''?.P^"''="'- *'™« that a special ev.nt oc 
 
 Decam. a part of ,ts warp and woof-a thing hard to tell 
 but necessary to relate as best one may * "' 
 
 Kcy, ana not seeine his wif»> in ^u^ ,-xi- 
 
 was in th^ i,oK* f ^^.^"^ '" *"e sittmg-room where she 
 
 ciaLwork. thinkfn; to Jd heVthir^sr" "' ^^ ^^^- 
 PhiJhp opened the JLL ^ ^''^ ^^^ "°' t^^ere. 
 
 vant, who sat tht. . "^""^ '"^ ^"'^"''"^^ °^ the ser- 
 ::Z^ fat there reading, where his wife was 
 
 reply ''"' ''' '^^"^ "P^*-« a little while ago." was the 
 
 ala^^r;^ ::;« St/- '^--dy and to his 
 
 ^he floor in fr:nt :f\ s lest't Ph^r ''' '^^ °" 
 ^ai«e her he noticed two paces t n' ' ''°°'''' *° 
 addressed to "The PrZl ^.f"',''^ P«P«'' one of them 
 
 Preacher's Wife "Thvf' "^ ^ ^''^^^ *" "The 
 
 ening the li^efof th?::fi„rr aTr^L^-rhr^- 
 
 prayer, Venly, an enemy hath done this." 
 
 .*.! 
 
I 
 
 06 THE CRUCIFIXION Of PHILLIP StRONG, 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ->,'?■ 
 
 L .'H 
 
 The anonymous le'ters, or rather scrawle, which Phillip 
 found by the side of his unconscious wife as he stooped to 
 raise her up, read as follows : 
 
 " Preacher : Better pack up and leave. Milton js .01 
 big enough to hold you alive. Take warning in time." 
 
 "Preacher's WiFF- As long as you stay in Milton 
 ^here is danger of two funerals. Dynamite kills wome."! 
 as well as men." 
 
 Phillip sat by the study lounge, ho'ding these scrawls 
 in his hand as his wife was Recovering from her fainting 
 fit after he had applied restoratives. His heart was filled 
 with horror at the thought of the complete cowardice 
 which could thr iten the life of an innocent womc There 
 was with it a feeling of intense contempt of such chil< ^h, 
 dime novel methods of intimidation as that of sticking a 
 knife into the study desk. If it had not been for its effect 
 on his wife, Phillip would have laughed at the whole thing. 
 As it was. he was surprised and alarmed that she had faint- 
 ed—a lumg he had never known her to, do; and as soon 
 as s .e was able to speak he listened anxiously to her 
 story. 
 
 " It must have been an hour after you had gone, Phillip, 
 that I thought I heard a noise upstairs, and, thinkmg per- 
 haps you had left one of your windows down at the top 
 and the curtain was flapping, I went right up, and the min- 
 ute I stepped into the room I had the feeling that some 
 one was there." 
 
 " Didn't you carry up a light ?" 
 
 " No. The lamp was burning at the end of the uD"sr 
 hall, an.d so I never thought of needing more. Well, as 
 
THE CHUCFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 67 
 
 other he threw th. i ul / ^"''' '^''''^ with the 
 
 orner ne threw the l.ght from a small bull's-eye or bnrcr 
 lar s lantern upon them." ^" 
 
 Phillip listened in amazement 
 
 p;^^.^ ...e .. „„. . • ]:z :Lrar,^:s 
 
 Ob Ihln"' i""" • "'"^'" ■" " •"='• '•> It" house y« 
 but for"':::;',.:";.."""'" -"" "^"- '-'— 'or n,;S 
 
 loon men think I am a chilrl tr. u f ■ r^"^'^^""-' ''^^ sa- 
 
 story smce the time of Captain Kidd " • 
 
 "Then you think this is the work of the saloon men?" 
 
 ^ . Who else can it be ? We have no ofh.r .n-^;.. Ir 
 
 cms sort in Ivljiton.*' . '^^ "' 
 
 •'But they will kill you I Oh. PhiUip. i cannot bear 
 
 1 
 
 
68 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 Let us leave fit"'; 
 
 the thought of living here in this way. 
 dreadful place I " 
 
 "Little woman," said Phillip, while he bravely drove 
 away an- slight anxiety he may have had for himself, 
 "don't you ibink it would be co\i ^rdly to run away so 
 soon ? " 
 
 "Wouldn't it be bc.t'i- to mn away too souj, than to 
 be killed? Is there an/ iraivf -. in str,><ng in a place 
 where you are likely to be nu' : ' Iv iiome coward ?" 
 
 "I don't think I shall le, soid f'hillip, confidently. 
 "And I don't want yot: to Ik* airaid. They will not dare 
 to harm ^^ou." 
 
 " No, Phillip I " exclairntd his wife, eagerly ; " you 
 must not be mistaken. I did not faint away to-night be- 
 cause I was afraid for myself. Truly, I have no fear there. 
 h was the thought of the peril in which you siaiiu daily 
 as you go out among ihese men, and as you go back and 
 forth w your meetings in the dark. I an rowing nerv- 
 ous and anxious ever since the shooting ; and when I was 
 startled b> the man here to-night I was so weak that I 
 fainted. But T am sure they do not care to harm me ; you 
 are the object of their hatred. If they strike any one it 
 will be you. That is the reason I want you to leave this 
 place. Say you will, Phillip. Surely there are other 
 churches where you could preach as you desire to do and 
 still not be in such constant danger." 
 
 It required all of Phillip's wisdom and love and dis- 
 cernment of his immediate duty to answer his wife's ap- 
 peal and say no to it. It was one of the severest struggles 
 he had ever had. There was to be taken into account not 
 only his own safety, but that of his wife as well. For, 
 think what he would, he could not shake off the feeling 
 tjiat a coward so cowardly as to resort to the assassina- 
 tion of a man would not be over pa"**cular even if the vic- 
 tim should chanrf tn f>» « i.i-o. . HLMi:. _.-=^ 
 
 enough to be entirely unshaken I, anonymous threats. 
 
 ■.iw 
 
*M 
 
 m 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 69 
 
 A thousand a day would not have unnerved him in the 
 least. He would have writhed under the sense of the great 
 su; which they revealed, but that is all the effect they 
 would have had. 
 
 When it came to his wife, however, that was another 
 <iuestion. For a moment he felt like sending in his resig- 
 nation and moving out of Milton as soon as possible But 
 finally he decided that he ought to remain; and Mrs. 
 Strong did not oppose his decision when once he had 
 declared it. She knew Phillip must do what to him was 
 the will of his Master, and with that she was content. 
 
 She had overcome her nervoufness and dread now that 
 Phillip's courageous presence strengthened her, and she 
 began to tell him that he had better hunt for the man who 
 had appeared so mysteriously in the study. 
 
 " I haven't convinced myself yet that there is any man. 
 Confess, Sarah, that you dreamed all that." 
 
 " I did not," replied his wife, a little indignantly. " Do 
 you think I wrote those letters and stuck that knife into 
 the desk myself ?" 
 
 " Of course not. But how could a man get into the 
 study and neither you nor the girl know it ?" 
 
 " I did hear a noise, and that is what started me up- 
 stairs. And he may be in the house yet. I shall not rest 
 easy until you look into all the closets and down cellar and 
 everywhere." 
 
 So Phillip, to quiet his wife, seached the nouse thor- 
 oughly, but found nothing. The servant and the minister's 
 wife followed at a respectful distance behind Phillip one 
 armed with the poker and the other with a fire-shovel, 
 while he pulled open closet doors with reckless disregard 
 of any possible man hiding within, and pretended to look 
 .nto the most unlikely places for him, joking all the while 
 to reassure his trembling followers. 
 
 ^ncy louna one of the windows in Phillip's study 
 partly c^ei.. But that did not prove anything, although 
 
70 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 u man might have crawled in and out again through that 
 window from a wing of the parsonage, the roof of which 
 ran so near the window that an active person could gain 
 entrance that way. The whole aflfair remained more or 
 less a mystery to Phillip. However, the letters and the 
 knife were real. He took them down town next day to the 
 othce of the evening paper, and asked" the editor to pub- 
 lish the letters and describe the knife. It was too good 
 a piece of news to omit, and Milton people were treated 
 to a genuine sensation when the article came out. Phillip's 
 object in giving the incident publicity was to show the 
 community what a murderous element it was fostering in 
 the saloon power. Those threats and the knife preached 
 -B sermon to the thoughtful people of Milton, and citizens 
 who had never asked the question before began to ask , 
 now Are we to endure this saloon monster much longer?" 
 As for Phillip he went his way the same as ever. Some 
 of his fnends and church members even advised him to 
 
 ''"if/^'J-v''"" ^"'^ ^^ '''■"^"' «^°"t »°'"K o"t alone at 
 mght Phi hp laughed at the idea of a revolver, and said. 
 If the saloon men want to get rid of me without the 
 trouble of shooting me themselves they had better make 
 me a present of a silver-mounted pistol; then I should 
 manage the shooting myself. And as for being careful 
 about going out in the evenings, what is this town thinking 
 of, that It will continue to license and legalize an institu- 
 tion that makes its honest citizens advise new-comers to 
 stay at home for fear of assassination ? No. I shall go 
 about my work just as if I lived in the most law-abiding 
 community in America. And if I am murdered by the 
 whiskey men I want the people of Milton to understand 
 that the citizen will be as much to blame for the murder 
 as the saloon men. For a community that will license such 
 a curse ought to bear the shame of the legitimate fruits 
 of it." 
 
 The trial of the man with the hare-lip had been post- 
 
 \ 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 7I 
 
 • 
 poned for some legal reason, and Phillip felt relieved some- 
 what. He dreaded the ordeal of the court scene. And one 
 or two visits mad.^ to the jail had not been helpful to him 
 The man had refused each time to see the minister, and he 
 had gone away feeling hungry in his soul for the man's re- 
 demption, and realizing something of the spirit of Christ 
 .^. ^''^ compelled to cry out, "Ye will not come 
 unto Me that ye might have life." That always seemed to 
 l^hilhp the most awful feature of the history of Christ- 
 that the very people He loved and yearned after spit upon 
 Him and finally broke His heart with their hatred 
 
 He continued his study of the problem of the town, 
 believing that every place has certain peculiar local char- 
 acteristics which every church and preacher ought to study. 
 He was struck by the aspect of the Ipwer part of the town, 
 where nearly all the poorer people lived. He went down 
 there and studied the situation thoroughly. It did not take 
 a very great amount of thinking to convince him that the 
 church power in Milton was not properly distributed. The 
 seven largest churches in the place were all on one street, 
 well up in the wealthy residence portion, and not more 
 than two or three blocks apart. Down in the tenement 
 district there was not a single church building, and only 
 one or two weak mission schools, which did not touch the 
 problem of the district at all. The distance from this poor 
 part of the town to the churches was fully a mile, a dis- 
 tance that certainly stood as a geographical obstacle to the 
 church attendance of the neighbourhood, even supposing 
 the people were eager to go to the large churches, which 
 was not at all the fact. IndeeS, Phillip soon discovered that 
 the people were indifferent in the matter. The churches on 
 the fashionable street in town meant less than nothing to 
 them. They never would ^r, to them, and there was little 
 hope that anything the pasr, . or members could do would 
 
 - ^ — ' "* «!=ta: -.c tu tuinc witnin cnuroh inHu- 
 
 ence. The fact of the matter was the seven churches of 
 
72 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION ^i? PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 different denominations in Milton had no living connec- 
 tion whatever with nearly one-half the population . 
 the most needy half, of the place. 
 
 The longer Phillip studied the situation, the more un- 
 christian it looked to him, and the more he longed to 
 change it. He w r i over the ground again and agam very 
 carefully. He tail d with the other ministers, and the 
 most advanced Chn.-tians in his own church. There was 
 a variety of op i ,n as to what might be done, but no one 
 was ready for the radical move which Phillip advocjited 
 when he came tc .speak on the subject the first Sunday of 
 the month. 
 
 The first Sunday was beginning to be more '>r less 
 dreaded or anticipated by Calvary Church pr ,ple. They 
 were learning to expect something radical, sweeping al- 
 most revolutionary in Phillip's utterances on Christ and 
 Modern Society, Some ag..ed with him as far as he had 
 gone: Very many had been hurt at his plainness of speech 
 This was especially true of the property owners and the 
 fashionable part of Phillip's membership. Yr. there was 
 a fascination about Phillip's preaching tha' presented, so 
 far, any very serious outbreak or dissension in the c' urch. 
 Phillip was a recognized leader. ' • his pre: entatiot .f the 
 truth he was large-minded. He h. .he faculty of Holding 
 men's respect. There was no mistaking the situation, how- 
 ever Mr. Wmter, with others, was --rising against him. 
 Philhp was vaguely conscious of i. uch that did nc; de- 
 velop into open, apparent fact. Nevertheless, when he 
 Came up on the first Sunday of the next month he f<- , ,, 
 an audience that crowded the church to the donr^,, ana in 
 the audience were scattered numbers of m. ^rv 'he 
 worKingmen's district -vith whom Phillip had l d !e 
 down there. It vas, .v, before, an inspiring co. egauun, 
 and Phillip hctd it, feeling sure in his heart that he had 
 a great stiLject to unfold, and a message to deliver to the 
 
 Church n' (Tfirief gi</<I> oe tM> /.^..IJ -.~^ t-.-- • •• .— • ■ 
 
 -- „„ ... vvitiu Hut. uui Dcheve cnrist 
 
 r! ^ 
 
• THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 73 
 
 would most certainly present if he were visibly present in 
 Milton. 
 
 He began by describing the exact condition of affairs 
 in Milfon. To assist this description he had brought with 
 him into the church his map of the town. 
 
 " Look now," he said, pointing out the different locali- 
 ties, " at B. Street, where we now are. He ire seven of 
 the largest churches of the place on this street. The entire 
 • distance b !wecn the first of these church buildings and the 
 last one is a iittle over half a mile. Three of these churches 
 are only two blocks apart. Then consider the character of 
 the residences and people in the vicinity of this street. It 
 is what is called desirable; that is, the homes are the very 
 finest, L 1 the people, almost without exception, are re- 
 fihed, res ■ -table, well educated, and Christian in training. 
 All the w h of the town centres about B. Street. All 
 the society li;- extends out from it on each side. It is 
 considered f ' ost fashionable street for drives and pro- 
 menades. ' is wel! ghted, well-paved, well-kept. The 
 people who come 01 the houses on B. Street are always 
 well dressed and coa,. rtahle looking. Mind you," con- 
 tinued Phillip, raising his hand with a significant gesture, 
 " I do not want to have you think that I consider good 
 clothes and comfortable looks as unchristian or anything 
 against the people who present such an appearance. Far 
 fr6m it. I simply mention tb^^ fact to make the contrast 
 I am now going to show you all the plainer. For let us 
 leave B. Street now and go down into the flats by the river, 
 where nearly all the mill people have their home;. I wish 
 you would note first the distance from B. Street and the 
 churches to this tenc nent district. It is nine blocks— that 
 Is. a little over a mile. To the edge of ii,e tenement houses 
 farthest from our own church building it is a mile and 
 three quarters. And within that entire district, measuring 
 
 nearly two hv tfiri»# mit^e t-u^^^ :.. _.»4. _ -1 « < -i .. 
 
 _, ' ' ' •= """^ = • lurc.T Du:ra;ng. 
 
 Ihere a- two feeble mission schools wl ch are held in 
 
74 THE CRUCIFIXION OF P iLLIP STRONG. 9 
 
 plain, unattractive halls, where every Sunday a handful of 
 children meet; but nothing practically is being done by 
 the Church of Christ in this place to give the people in 
 that part of the town the privileges and power of the life 
 of Christ, the life more abundantly. The houses down 
 there are of the cheapest description. The people who 
 come out of them are far from well dressed. The streets 
 and alleys are dirty and ill-smelling And no one cares 
 to promenade for pleasure up and down the sidewalks in 
 that neighborhood. It is not a safe place to go to alone 
 at night. The most frequent disturbances come from that 
 part of the town. All the hard characters find refuge 
 there. And let me say that I am not now speaking of the 
 working people. They are almost without exception law- 
 abiding. But in every town like ours "the floating popula- 
 tion of vice and crime seeks naturally that part of a town 
 where the poorest houses are, and the most saloons, and 
 the greatest darkness, both physical and moral. 
 
 " If there is a part of this town which needs to be lifted 
 up and cleaned and inspired by the presence of the Church 
 of Christ it is right there where there is no church. The 
 people on B. Street and for six or eight blocks each side 
 know the Gospel. They have large numbers of books and 
 papers and much Christian literature. They have been 
 taught Bible truths; they are familiar with them. Of what 
 value, then, is it to continue to support dn this short street 
 so near together, seven churches of as many different de- 
 nominations which have for their members the respectable 
 moral people of the town ? I do not mean to say that thJ 
 well-to-do, 'respectable people do not need the influence 
 of the Church and the preaching of the Gospel. But they 
 can get these privileges without such a fearful waste of 
 material and power. If we had only three or four < 
 churches on this street they would be enough We are 
 wasting our strength with the present arrangement. We 
 =-•- smufi the rich and liic educated and well-to-do people 
 
 Ik 
 
THE CkUClPlXlON OF PHILLIP STRONG. 75 
 
 «eveii times as much church as we are giving the poor, the 
 ignorant, and tlic struggling workers in the tenement dis- 
 trict. There is no question, there can be no question, that 
 all this is wrong. It is opposed to every principle that 
 Christ advocated. And in the face of these plain facts, 
 which no one can dispute, there is a duty before these 
 churches on this street which cannot be denied without 
 denying the very purpose of a church. It is that duty 
 yvhich I am now going to urge upon this Calvary Church. 
 
 " It has been said by some of the ministers and mem- 
 bers of the churches that we might combine in an effort 
 and build a large and commodious mission in the tenement 
 district. But that, to my mind, would not settle the prob- 
 lem at all, as it should be settled. It is an easy and a lazy 
 thing for church members to put their hands in their 
 pockets and say to a few other church members, ' We will 
 help build a mission, if you will run it after it u up; we 
 will attend our church up-town here, while the mission 
 is worked for the poor people down there.' That is not 
 what will meet the needs of the situation. What that part 
 of Milton needs is the Church of Christ in its members— 
 the whole Church of Christ in its members— the whole 
 Church, on the largest possible scale. What I am now 
 going to propose, therefore, is something which I believe 
 Christ would advocate, if not in the exact manner I shall 
 explain, at least in the same spirit." 
 
 Phillip paused a moment and looked out over the con- 
 gregation earnestly. The expectation of the people was 
 roused almost to the point of a sensation as he went on. 
 
 " I have consulted with competent authorities, and they 
 say that our church building here coulc* b^ i.ioved from its 
 present foundation without serious damage to the struc- 
 ture. A part of it would -4iave to be torn down to assist 
 the moving, but it could easily be replaced. The expense 
 would not be more <^han we could readily meet. We are 
 out of debt, and tht property is free from incumbrance. 
 
1^ THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 Wbat I propose, therefore, is a very simple thing— that we 
 move our church edifice down into the heart of the tene- 
 ment district, where we can buy a suitable lot for a com- 
 paratively small sum, and at once begin the work of a 
 Christian church in the very neighborhood where such 
 work is most needed. 
 
 "There are certain objections to this plan. I think 
 they can be met by the exercise of the Christ spirit of 
 sacrifice and love. A great many members will not be 
 able to go that distance to attend divine service, any more 
 than the people there at present can well come up here 
 But there are six churches left on B. Street. What is to 
 hinder any Christian member of Calvary Church from 
 working and holding fellowship with those churches, if he 
 cannot put in his service in the tenement district ? None 
 of those churches are crowded; they will welcome the 
 advent of more members. But the main strength of the 
 plan which I propose lies in the fact that if it be aone, it 
 will be a live illustration of the eagerness of the Church 
 to reach and save men. The very sight of our church mov- 
 ing down off this street to the lower part of the town will 
 be an object lesson to the people; and the Church will at 
 once begin to mean something to them. Once established 
 there, w« can work from it as a centre. The distance 
 ought to be no discouragement to any healthy person. 
 There is not a young woman in this church that is in the 
 habit of dancing who does not make twice as many steps 
 during an evening dancing party as would be necessary to 
 take her to the. tenement district and back again. Surely 
 any Christian church member is as willing to endure 
 /atigue, and sacrifice as much time to help to make men 
 and women better, as he is to have a good time himself. 
 Think for a moment what this move which I propose 
 would mean to the life of this town, and to our own Chris- 
 tian growth! At present we go to church and listen to a 
 
 COOd choir WP licfAM ¥n nfo«»U.'_~ t. - 
 
 i—^ i!:iis, «c go norae again, we 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. yy 
 
 have a pleasant Sunday-school, we are all comfortable and 
 well clothed here and enjoy our services, we are not dis- 
 trubed by the sight of disagreeable and uncongenial peo- 
 ple. But is that Christianity ? Where do the service and 
 the self-denial and the working for men's souls come in ? 
 Ah, my dear brothers and sisters, what is this church 
 really doing for the salvation of men in this piace ? Is it 
 Christianity merely to have a comfortable church, and go 
 to it once or twice a week to enjoy nice music ana listen 
 to preaching, and then go home to a good dinner ? What 
 f^ave we sacrificed ? What have we denied ourselves ? 
 __ What have we done to show the poor or the sinful that we 
 care anything for their souls, or that Christianity Ts any- 
 thing but a comfortable, select religion for those who can 
 afford the good things of the world ? What has the 
 church in Milton done to make the workingman here feel 
 that it is an institution that throbs with the brotherhood 
 of man ? Aud what do we know as a church of the prob- 
 lems that face the tenement-dwellers and the wage-earners? 
 But suppose we actually move our church down there and 
 then iro here ourselves week-days and Sundays to work 
 for tne uplifting of immortal beings, Shall we not then 
 have \\:i -atisfaction of knowing that we are at least trying 
 to do sor^x-thing more than enjoy our church all by our- 
 selves ? Shall we not be able to hope that we have at least 
 attempted to obey the spirit of our sacrificing Lord, who 
 commanded His disciples to go and make disciples of the 
 nations ? It seems to me that the plan I piupose is a 
 Christian plan. If the churches in this neighborhood were 
 not so numerous, if the circumstances were diflferent, it 
 might not be wise or necessary to do what I propose. But 
 as the facts are, I solemnly believe that this church has an 
 opportunity before it to show Milton and the other 
 churches and the world that it is willing to do an unusual 
 thing if it has within it the spirit of complete wUHnffnes?. 
 to reach and lift up mankind in the way that wili do it 
 
78 THE CkOClFlXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 best and most speedily. If individuals are commanded to 
 sacrifice and endure for Christ's sake and kingdom, I do 
 not know why organizations should not do the same. And 
 •n this instance something on a large scale, something that 
 represents large sacrifice, something that will convince the 
 peop e of the love of man for man, is the only thing that 
 wil strike deep enough into the problem of the tenement 
 d strict in Milton to begin to solve it in any satisfactory 
 or Christian way. — >■ 
 
 "I do not expect the church to act on my plan without 
 due deliberation. I have arrived at my own conclusions 
 
 fZ Tn r ^°'"5 ""'" '^' ""^'''^ «'-°""d- A"d in the 
 igh tof all the need and degradation of the people and in 
 the hght of all that Christ has made clear to be our dutj 
 as His disciples, there is but one path open to us. If we 
 neglect to follow Him as He beckons us. I believe we shall 
 neglect the one opportunity of Calvary Church to put 
 Itself ,n the position of the true Church of the crucified 
 1-amb of God, who did not please Himself, who came to 
 minister to others, who would certainly approve of any 
 steps His Church on earth in this age might honestly take 
 to reach men and love them and become to them the 
 helper and savior and life-giver which the great Head of 
 the Church truly intended we should be. I leave this plan 
 which I have proposed before you, for your Christian 
 thought and prayer. And may the Holy Spirit guide us 
 into all the truth. Amen. 
 
 If Phillip had deliberately planned to create a sensa- 
 tion, he could not have done anything more radical to 
 bring it about. If he had stood on the platform and fired 
 a gun into the audience it would not have startled < 
 members of Calvary Church more than this calm proposal 
 to them that thty move their church building away from 
 Its aristocratic surroundings. Nothing that he had said 
 in his previous sermons had provoked such a spirit of 
 opposition. This time the church was roused. Feellnac 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 79 
 
 of astonishment, indignation, and alarm agitated the mem- 
 bers of Calvary Church. Some of them gathered about 
 Phillip at the close of the service. 
 
 " It will not be possible to do this thing you propose, 
 Brother Strong," said one of the deacons, a leading mem- 
 ber, and a man who had defended Phillip once or twice 
 against public criticism. , 
 
 " Why not ?" asked Phillip, simply. He was ex- 
 hausted with his effort that morning, but felt that a crisis 
 of some sort had been precipitated by his message, and so 
 he welcomed this show of interest which his sermon had 
 aroused. 
 
 " The church will not agree to such a thing." 
 
 "A number of them favor the step," replied Phillip, 
 who had talked over the matter fully with many in the 
 church. 
 
 "A majority will vote against it," 
 
 "Yes, an overwhelming majority!" said one man. "I 
 know a good many who would not be able to go that dis- 
 tance to attend church, and they certainly would not join 
 any other church on the street. I know for one I 
 wouldn't." 
 
 "Not if you thought Christ's kingdom in this town 
 would be advanced by it ?" asked Phillip, turning to this 
 maa with a directness that was almost bluntness. 
 
 " I don't see how that would be a test of my Chris- 
 tianity." 
 
 "That is not the question," said one of the trustees, 
 who had the reputation of being a very shrewd business 
 man. " The question is concerning the feasibility of mov- 
 ing this property a mile into the poorest part of the town 
 and then maintaining it there. In my opinion it cannot be 
 done. The expenses of the organization cannot be kept up 
 We should lose some of our best financial supporters. Mr. 
 Strong's ispirit and purpose spring from a good motive 
 ■.:■-■ u-u;,-;, :,;:r, v:c-,vca iroui « business point ot view, the 
 
8o 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP SThONG. 
 
 church m that locality would not be a succes. To my 
 mind It would be a very unwise thing to do. It would 
 practically destroy our organization here 'and not reallv 
 establish anything there." 
 
 " I do not believe we can tell until we try," said PhUlip 
 'I certainly do not wish the thurch to destroy itselt fool- 
 ishly. But I do .feel that we ought to do something very 
 positive and very large to define our attitude as saviors 
 to this commuity. And moving the building as 1 pro- 
 pose has the advantage of being a definite practical step 
 chulch " "'''*'°" ""^ ^ ^^"^t'-l^^ »se of our powers as a 
 
 There was more talk of the same sort hut it was plainly 
 felt by Phillip that the plan be had proposed was distaste- 
 ful to the greater part of the congregation, and if the mat- 
 ter came to a vote it would be defeated. He talked the plan 
 over with his trustees as he had already done before he 
 spoke in public. Four of them were decided in their ob- 
 jection to the plan. Only one fully sustained Phillip 
 Dunng the week he succeeded in finding out that from his 
 membership of five hundred, less than forty persons were 
 willing to stand by him in so radical a movement And 
 yet the more Phillip studied the problem of the town the 
 more he was persuaded that the only way for the church 
 to make any impression on the tenement district was to 
 put Itself directly in touch with the neighborhood To 
 accomplish that necessity Phillip was not stubborn He 
 was ready to adopt any plan that would actually do some- 
 thing, but every day that he spent in his study of the town 
 he grew more eager to have the church feel its opportu- 
 nity and make Christ a reality to those most in need of 
 him. 
 
 It was at this time that Phillip was surprised one even- 
 ing by a call from one of the working-men who had been 
 present and heard his sermon on moving the chqrch info 
 the tenement district. 
 
 ii 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 8l 
 
 "I came to see you particularly, Mr. Strong, about 
 getting you to come down to our hall some evening next 
 w-eek and give us a talk on some subject connected with 
 the signs of the times." 
 
 r.nZ"pl°n ' '1.^°" '•'''"'' ^ '"" "^^ ^"^ ^ood that way," 
 replied Phillip, hesitating a little. 
 
 vn„"^ bf «;«./°" can. The men are beginning to take to 
 you. and while they won't come up to church they will 
 turn out to hear you down there." -" 
 
 "All right, when do you want me to come ?" 
 Pv?r ""^* /"^^'l^y- You know where the hall is ?" 
 that'parf oTMHton"^ ''' ''''' '' ' '" '''' ^^'^^ ^'^^^^^ 
 The spokesman for tlie workmen expressed nis thanks 
 and arose to go. but Phillip asked him to stay T few mo 
 ments. He wanted to know at first hand what the woTk 
 
 ihat IS not the question. Would they feel me church 
 any more there than where it is now ?" 
 
 out'tJl'ar ':;.""' ''^"' '''' ^°"'^- ^'^y -«'d come 
 
 Phf'n^*"' *!•'* """"'^ ^' something, to be sure" replied 
 Phrlhp, s„„,ing. '■ But as to the wisdom of my Z !. 
 how does It strike you on the whole ?" ' 
 
 ^^^^ll^ljould like to .ee n done. I don't believe I shall, 
 
 " Why ?" 
 
 ^■' Your church won't agree to it " 
 
 "Maybe they wil!. in time," 
 
 "I hope they will. And Jet me ten you Mr Str^^ 
 even if you succeeded in getting your church and t^^f!: 
 to come into the teriem^nf a;...J .„..?. '^"*' ^''P'^ 
 ot people there who wouldn^'go nea;;o«"" "" ^""'^ 
 
 . •■^.•r 
 
82 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 I suppose that is so. But oh. that we might do some- 
 thing I Phillip clasped his hands over his knee and 
 gazed earnestly at the man opposite. The man returned 
 the gaze almost as earnestly. It was almost the imperson- 
 ation cf the Church confronting the laboring man, each 
 in a certain way asked the other. "What will the Church 
 do? And It was a noticeable fact that the minister's look 
 revealed more doubt and anxiety than the other man's look 
 wbch contained more or less of indifference and distrust' 
 F.Mlhp sighed, and his visitor soon after took his leave 
 
 So It came about that Phillip Strong plunged into a 
 work which from the time he stepped into the dingy little 
 hall and faced the crowd, peculiar to it, had a growing in- 
 flueuce on all his strange career, which rapidly grew in 
 strangeness as days came on. 
 
 He was invited again and again to address the men in 
 
 tT ^IV *°"- ^*'*y ^"•■' ^'™°«* «" mill-employees. 
 They had a simple organization for debate and discussion 
 o questions of the day. Gradually the crowds increased 
 
 fl ''ru°"".""*** '° '°"''' ""^ developed a series of 
 talks on Christian Socialism. There was standing room 
 
 T/' . ^^« j>^g'"n'nK to know a number of the men, 
 and a strong affection was growing up in their hearts fo^ 
 
 uJJ"^' r'J"l* 5'^°'*^ *''" '•"'^ '^^ *'-°"l''« «t the mills 
 broke out He had just come back from the hall, where he 
 had now been going every Tuesday evening, and where he 
 had spoken on his favorite theme, " the meaning and re- 
 sponsibihty of power, both financial and mcral." He had 
 treated the subject from the Christian point of Z en 
 tirely. He had several times rouse.^ his rude audience to 
 enthus..sm. Moved by his theme and hi, surroundings, 
 he had denounced, with even more than usual vigor, those 
 
 tThlr-'"^ T'*' "'° ''' "^^'''"^ -»^ »»«'- --ey 
 to help their brothers. He had mentioned, as he went 
 
 , — -— ""vninjucu, as ne 
 
 ■ " =" ■• -y-::^.i;iiiiy sreai puwcr puts 
 
 on a 
 
 fA 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 83 
 
 n.an. and had dealt in a broad way with the whole subject 
 of power m men as a thing to be used, and always used for 
 the common good. 
 
 He did not recall his exact statements, but felt a little 
 uneasy as he walked home for fear he might possibly have 
 influenced his particular audience against the ncn as a 
 class. He had not intended anything of the kind, but had 
 a vague idea that possibly he oojfht to have guarded some 
 words or sentences more carefully. 
 
 He had gone up into his study to finish some work, 
 when the bell rang sharply, and he came down to open the 
 door, just as Mrs. Strong came in from the other room, 
 where she had been giving directions to the girl, who had 
 gone upstairs through the kitchen. 
 
 The minister and his wife opened the door together 
 and one of the neighbors rushed into the hall so excited 
 he could hardly speak. 
 
 xv".°?' .^'■' ^*'"°"^' '^°"'* y°" 80 right down to Mr. 
 
 InT' T" '* °""- ^°" ^^'^ •"°'-'= '"fl"«"« with 
 inose nien than any one around here." 
 
 " What men ?" 
 
 doesJt'LTH""'" "^ ^°'"" ^^ '"' ^'"^ " -- -« 
 
 but"fr'" u ""^ ^'"■"'P' '"'■"•"^ P^^^' "°t ^^om fear. 
 listT '' wr°"'^ '' ^'''"'^ ''''' ^^ -'^ht have mad 
 ^« mistake. Who is trying to kill him-the mill men ?" 
 
 "Yes! No! I do not, cannot tell. But he is in great 
 danger, and you are the only man in this town who can 
 help to save him. Come !" 
 
 Phillip turned to his wife. " Sarah, it is my duty If 
 any hmg should happen to me. you know my sou wi 
 meet yours at the gates of Paradise." 
 
 He kissed her and rushed out into the nignt. 
 
84 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 ■II 
 
 IT' 
 III. 
 
 When Phillip reached the residence of Mr Winter he 
 lound himself at once in the midst of a mob of howling 
 angry men who surged over the lawn and tramped the 
 hght snow that was falling into a muddy mas. over the 
 walks and up the veranda steps. A large electnc lamp out 
 «n the street in front of the house threw a light over the 
 strange scene. 
 
 Phillip wedged his way in among the men. crying out 
 bis name, and asking for room to be made so that he 
 could see Mr. Winter. The crowd, under the impulse 
 wmch sometimes moves excited bodies of men. yielded 
 to his request. There were cries of " Let him have a min- 
 ister If he wants one!" "Room here for the priest!" 
 
 It^r.V^V'l^'V ''"'"'" *° '^^ ^""^ P'-^yi"^ where 
 Its needed m,ghty bad!" and so on. Phillip found a way 
 
 opened for h,m as he struggled toward the house, and he 
 burned forward fearing some great trouble, but hardly 
 prepared for what he saw when he reached the steps of 
 the veranda. 
 
 Half a dozen men- had the mill-owner in their jrraso 
 havmg evidently just dragged him out of his dining-foom.' 
 His coat was half torn off, as if there had been a sfruggle 
 Marks of bloody fingers stained his collar. His face was 
 white, and. h»s eyes filled with the fear of death. Within 
 .^on the floor, lay his wife, who had fainted. A son and 
 
 one of the servants, who kneeled half fainting herself by 
 the s.de of the mill-owner's wife. A table overturned 
 hlr^^Tu^ "•'"*' ^'""" ''^'''''^ °^" the floor, a 
 
 before%h ' ""T °' ' ™"''^ '^°* °" «»« ^^ite tiling 
 before the open fire.-the whole oictnr. fl,=»..^ ..__: 
 
 .^sm 
 
 iii 
 
V-J 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 85 
 
 Phillip like a scene out of the French Revolution, and 
 he almost rubbed his eyes to know if he was awake and 
 m America in the nineteenth century. He was intensely 
 practical, however, and the nature of his duty never for a 
 moment escaped him. He at once advanced and said 
 calmly: — 
 
 "What does all this mean? Why this attack on Mr. 
 Winter ?' 
 
 The moment Mr. Winter saw Phillip and heard his 
 - voice, he cried out, trembling: " Is that you, Mr. Strong ? 
 Thank God ! Save me ! Save me ! They are going to 
 kill me ! ' 
 
 " Who talks of killing, or taking human life contrary 
 to law!" exclaimed Phillip, coming up close and placing 
 his hand on Mr. Winter's arm. " Men, what are you 
 doing ?" "' 
 
 For a moment the crowd fell back a little* from the 
 mill-owner, and one of the men who had been foremost in 
 the attack, replied with some respect, although in a sullen 
 manner, Mr. Strong, this is not a case for your inter- 
 ference. This man has caused the death of one of his 
 employees, and he deserves hanging." 
 
 "And hanging he will get 1 " yelled another. A great 
 cry arose. In the midst of it all Mr. Winter shrieked out 
 his innocence. " It is all a mistake f They do not know ! 
 Mr Strong, tell them they do not know I " 
 
 The crowd closed around Mr. Winter again. Phillip 
 knew enough about men to know that the mill-owner was 
 «n genuine danger. Most of his assailants were the foreign 
 element in the mills. Many of them were under the influ- 
 ence of liquor. The situation was critical.. Mr. Winter 
 clung to Phillip with the frantic clutch of a man who 
 sees only one way of escape and clings to that with mad 
 eagerness. Phillip turned around and faced-the mob He 
 
 raised his voice, hnnin" ♦" --=•- 
 
 «rJ*i, :* B 1. t. ' - = ■•■ s la - iiw.ijs <«uu reason 
 
 with It. Butht migvit as wen have raised his voice 
 
 a iicsring arid reason 
 
86 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 against a tornado. Some one threw a handful of mud and 
 snow toward the prisoner, m an instant every hand 
 reached for the nearest missile, and a shower of stones 
 muddy snow balls, and limbs torn from tne trees on the 
 awn, was rained upon the house. Most of the windows 
 m the lower story were broken. All this time Phillip 
 «as eagerly remonstrating with he few men who had their 
 
 le"ad V:: "'"""""• "^ ^'^^"^^^ '^ he could or^; 
 P ead wuh them to let Mr. Winter go. he could slip wit^ 
 h.m around the end of the veranda through a side door . 
 and take h.m through the house to a place of safety. He 
 a^ o knew that every minute was precious, as the police 
 might arrive at any moment and change the situation 
 
 But in spite of his pleas, the mill-owner was grad- 
 th «r'S, '"' '"^f ' ""^^ °ff ^h« --nda tolard 
 
 Phillip out of the way. 
 u, sir. Better get out of 
 o had spoken before. 
 ^ arm about Mr. Winter, 
 .'ill kill me with him. You 
 
 In 
 
 the gate. The men tried to 
 "We don't want to hr; 
 danger." said the same •■ 
 
 Phillip, for answer, r 
 saying, " If you kill him. ,. ... .„. ^e witn mm. 
 hall never do this great sin against an innocent man 
 the name of God I call on every soul here to^" 
 
 The Ih ' ''°''^' """" ^'^^""^ '" '^' "°«« that followed. 
 The mob was insane with fury. Twice Mr. Winter was 
 
 PhT "^iV''' '^ ^''^^ ^°-" - the walk. TwTce 
 Phillip raised him to his feet, feeling sure that if thi 
 
 deTh' 7nT'^ ''"" 'r ' ''-' -^^'' tram^leMm 
 
 man's h^ad pH' °"' ^'l'"'^ ' "'''' °^^^ ^^e wretched 
 mans head. Phillip snatched it off again. Both he and 
 Mr. Winter were struck again and again. Their clothes 
 were torn into tatters. Mr. Winter was faint and reetg 
 ^^:^S r ^ ""^^^ '-'' ^^-^ - Phillip like thft 
 
 «tf ! l^V^^ "■°**' ^^^ ^''««'^ the two outside the 
 Sn tot He m^ob: ^"^ ^"^ ^^^'^^ ^ ^^^ 
 
^. 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 87 
 
 " Me.^ made in God's image, listen to mel Do not 
 ake an .nnocent life. If you kill him you kill .ue also, fo 
 I mil never leave his side alive, and I will not permit 
 such murder if I can prevent it." 
 
 velilf "^ '^'"' ''°?u *^' ^'°°^y ^^^^"-^ ^"d the priest I" 
 yelled a vo.ce. "They both belong to the same church." 
 
 wentu^ Ph"M'""' '^^"S 'em both!' A tempest of cries 
 the stre'e. f '''"'V^?^^^ "^ ""^^ ^* «-nt. In the light of 
 
 ionate h .7. ' '°°'''' °"^ ^^^-^ ^^^ «-^' ^^^ ^^ Pas- 
 sionate, brutal faces, crazed with drmk and riot, and a 
 
 great wave of compassionate feeling swept over him. It 
 was Chnsthke in its yearning love for its lost children. 
 Wis Ijps moved in prayer. 
 
 agifateV'Tt ^7 ''' T' ''""''' °' '''' "^^'^ ^^^^^ ' 
 agitated It had surged up nearer the light with the evi- 
 dent intention of hanging the mill-owner on one of the 
 cross pieces of a teK graph pole near by. The rope had 
 agam been thrown over his head. Phillip stood w^h one 
 
 . TifeTr t^- '?'"i: ^"' ^'^'^ ''^ ^^'^^ '^-^ «^^^c ": 
 The enti rnni" ; '' '"■"' ' ^'''''' '''^'' *'^^" --^her. 
 h,d „r .P°''"^d^P^'-''"ent had been summoned, and 
 
 ButrerH H ^'"' "" ^ ^'^'^•"•^•'•"^ "**'« oi shots. 
 
 pol ce orce TK^'".!° '""" " ''' ""^hborhood of the 
 police force. Then those nearer Phillip began to run as 
 
 bes they could away from the officers PhilHp and th 
 
 m^l-owner w.re dragged along with the rest in the grow- 
 
 thetl'7T"\ ""^ °"' °^ *^^ '^'«^ P°'^« by which 
 the lights of the street were suspended 
 
 Here sheltered, but struck by many a blow Philio 
 
 because of tL '.'"'*' *? ^'^'^^'"^ ^'^ '^'^''^^ «"PPO'^ 
 because of the preaching of Christ's principles. 
 
 When finallv th^ nffi/^ot-o ..— -i..j .1 . 
 „,. . - — - svavhcu tnc iwo men Mr 
 
 Winter was nearly dead from fright. Phillip was ""badly 
 
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88 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 brujsed but not seriously, and he helped Mr. Winter back 
 to he house. A few of the police remained on guard the 
 rest of the night. It was while recovering from the effects 
 
 1 f'r!^'.*?''^ *^"* ^^""P ""'* '•y little learned of 
 the facts that led up to the assault. 
 
 th/r!!r ""^i ^^V'J' Showing feeling of discontent m all 
 the mills, and .t had finally taken shape in the Ocean Mill, 
 which was largely owned and controlled by Mr. Wiuter 
 The^scontent arose from a new scale of wages submitted 
 by the company, It was not satisfactory to the men and 
 the afternoon of that evening on which Phillip ha J' gone 
 down to the hall, a committee >f the mill men had gone 
 
 aZeTn r **"'"*^. .*"''«'^*«^«<=t'o«- They could not 
 agree on the proposition made by the company and by 
 heir own labor organization. Later in the^d^ Z oi 
 the committee, under instructions, went to see Mr. Winter 
 alone, and came away from the interview very much ex^ 
 ated and ang.^. He spent the first part of fhe evening 
 the mn • ^^"'". '' "'***^ * P^^ °^ his interview wit? 
 of t^e 0?"'%:",? r" *'** ""' ""'^ «"*"y ^<^^^'' Wm oZ . 
 
 the menial" h "'" '" *'' ''^^"'"^ '^^ '*<>'<» »«--«' oi 
 
 the men that he was going to see Mr. Winter airain know 
 
 .ng that on certain evenings he was in the ^ t oTi^" 
 
 cial business. The mills were undergoing repairs, and Mr 
 Winter was away from home more than usual. 
 
 abnlt! *"',"'f '*'* **''** ""^^"•^ »*^ of the man until 
 about ten o'clock, someone going home past the mill Xe 
 
 the e„; TthTt? '* *'^ '°°* °' * "- excavatiCat 
 th! m«n Vt 5".*'"'^' ""^ '='''"''•"« <*°*». discovered 
 the man who had been to see Mr Winter twice that after 
 noon. He had a terrible Wh in his head and lived on y a 
 few minutes after he was discovered. To the half dozen 
 m<m who stood over him in the saloon near by. where h^ 
 
 ter^' a?d" Z'^tu' '' ^^ '""'•""^«» *»« "«™e of "Mr. Wi' 
 ter, and had then expired. 
 
If-rx. 
 
 'i,H 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 89 
 
 A very little enrages men already heated with rum and 
 hatred. The rumor spread like lightning that the wealthy 
 mill-owner had killed one of the employees who had gone 
 to see him peaceably to arrange matters for the men. He 
 had thrown him out of the office into one of the new mill 
 excavations and left him there to rot like a dog in a ditch 
 So the story ran all through the tenement district, and in 
 an incredibly short time the worst elements iiv Milton 
 were surging toward the mill-owner's house wiTh murder 
 hinds'*" '^ *""* ^''^ ™*'''"^ °^ accomplishing it in their 
 
 Mr Winter had finished his work at the office and 
 Kone home to sit down to a late lunch, as his custom was 
 when he was interrupted by the mob. The rest of the inci- 
 dent is connected with what has been told. The crowd 
 seized him with little ceremony, and it was only PhilliVs 
 tmiely arrival, and his occupying the interval until the 
 police arrived that prevented a lynching in Milton that 
 night As It was, Mr. Winter received a scare from which 
 
 at n.ght He kept on guard a special watchman, and 
 •ved in more or ess terror even then. It was satisfac- 
 
 see Mr. Winter had never reached the office door But 
 coming around the corner of the building wherHhe fe' 
 
 s^LTL^' i**"'' '\'^' ^^"^" "'^ *»•« «tone-wo.ic, 
 wound tI /° 'V'^ " *'^ ^^ *° P'-°*>«" * ^atal 
 Mr Winter ; but unrest and discontent had seized on 
 every man employed in t*e mills, and as the win" drew 
 on, affairs reached a crisis. 
 
 sc,i?'f''''^"*"" ^'**^"'" '^' "^'"^ ^"'l the men over the 
 scale of wages could not be settled. The men began to 
 talk about a strike. Phillip heard of it. and at once 11 ' 
 1^ ^"^- and_boldness. spoke with dJw^rr^^ 
 
 
 iliat 
 
 was at the little hall a week 
 
 ■m 
 
I' •'». 
 
 90 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 after the attempt on Mr. Winter's life. Phillip's part in 
 that night's event had added to his reputation and his 
 popularity with the men. They admired his courage and 
 his grit Most of them were ashamed of the whole affair 
 especially after they had sobered down and it had been 
 Prpyed that Mr. Winter had not touched the man. So 
 Phillip was welcomed with applause as he came out on the 
 httle platform and looked over the crowded room, seeing 
 many^faces there that had glared at him in the mob a 
 week before. And yet his heart told him he loved these 
 men. and his reason told him that it was the sinner and the 
 unconverted that God loved. It was a terrible responsi- 
 bility to have such men co|^nt him popular, and he prayed 
 that wisdom might be given him in the approaching crisis, 
 especially as he seemed to have some real influence 
 _ He had not spoken ten words when some one cried 
 Come outside ! Big crowd out here want to get in " li 
 was moonlight and not very cold, so every one moved out 
 of the hall, and Phillip mounted the steps of a storehouse 
 
 frn". f, '^°^^ *•" * crowd, that filled up the street in 
 front and for a long distance right and left. His - 
 was very brief.but it was fortified with telling figuie 
 at the close he stood and answered a perfect torrent oi 
 questions. His mam counsel was against a strike in the 
 present situation He had made himself familiar with the 
 at, on both sides. Strikes, he argued, except in very 
 
 methoTnf T' ^.^"r^^f^---" unhealthy, disastrous 
 niethod of getting justice done. "Why, just look at that 
 strike m Preston. England, among the cotton spinners. 
 JnH 7 Tr °^ ^ ^ operatives, but that strike, before it 
 ended, threw out of emiHoyment over 7.800 weavers and 
 other workmen who had nothing whatever to do with the 
 
 trrtl ''•' "t^ "'"• '" '''' "^^"* ''"^' '•" *he cotton 
 trade m Lancashire, at the end of the first twelve weeks 
 
 the operatives had lost In wages- alone $4,500,000. Four 
 
 strikes that occurred in England between 1870 and 1880 
 
 .■fflM 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. " 9I 
 
 involved a loss in wages of more than $25,000,000. In 
 2.200 strikes investigated by the National bureau of 
 Labor, It is estimated that the employees lost about $si - 
 800.000 while the employers lost only $30,700,000. Out of 
 3SI strikes m England between 1870 and 1880, 191 were lost 
 by the strikers. 71 were gained, and 91 compromised; but 
 n the strikes that were successful it took several years 
 to regain in wages the amount lost by the enforced idle- 
 ness of the men." 
 
 There were enough hard-thinking, sensible men in 
 Phil IPS audience that night to see the force of his argu- 
 nent. The majority, however, were in favor of a general 
 
 wi p..^^'" '^'" P°'"* '" «K«'d to a scale of wages. 
 When Phillip went home he carried wkh him the convic- 
 
 n°? ^\u^ f"*'^' '*"'^' '" *''« '"•" ^" Penu-K. In 
 spite of he fact that the difference demanded by the men 
 was a trifle compared with their loss of wages the ve" 
 firs^ day of idleness, here was a determination among the 
 
 uoZl T' ''"" *'°"""^ "^^" '" ^he mills shoufd al 
 go out in the course of a few days if the demands of the 
 men m the Ocean Mill were not granted. 
 
 What was the surprise of every one in Milton, there- 
 fore, the very next day when it was announceo that every 
 
 tl fiftef„\r'* TfT '''' '^^'^o^^' «nd not a man of 
 the fifteen thousand laborers who marched to the build- 
 
 ZZXT'' ^^^^ °^ '''^ -"*- ™o-n^ found 
 ^t ance. Statements were posted up on the doors that the ' 
 mills were shut down until further notice. The mill! 
 owners had stolen a march on the employees, and the big 
 strike was on; but it had been started by Capital, not by 
 Labor, and L?bor went to its tenement or congregated 
 m the saloon, sullen and gloomy, and as the days went by 
 and the mills showed no signs of opening, the great army 
 of the unemployed walked the streets of Milton in growing 
 discontent and fast accumulating debt and poverty 
 
 ...ess-feie the iHa! of the man arrested for shooting 
 
x^' 
 
 92 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONQ. 
 
 Phillip came on. and Phillip and his wife both appeared 
 
 Z.T'^T" t '^* '"'"• "^^^ "'»" ""^ '^o^victed, and 
 soecLTf T ^^TJ''"' '-Pri^nment. It ha, nothing 
 special to do with the history of Phillip Strong, but may 
 be of mterest to the reader to know that in two years' 
 time he was pardoned out and returned to Milton to open 
 h.s old ^saloon, where he actually told more than once the 
 story of his attempt on the preacher's life. 
 
 There came on also during those stormy times in 
 Milton, the trial of several of the men arrested for the 
 assault on Mr. Winter. Phillip was also summoned as a 
 witness in these cases. As always, he frankly testified to 
 what he knew and saw. Several of the accused were con- 
 
 nrnhif . "T^^!^ '° ^°'* **™''' «»«* ^^e mill-owner. 
 probably fearful of revenge on the part of the men. did 
 not push the matter, and most of the cases went by default 
 tor lack of prosecution. 
 
 ch«!fjl^,!"*"'; "''"""' *°''"'^ P^'"'P underwent a 
 stnnT K I" *' "^'"^"We evening when the minister 
 
 eeHn. of '* ''' ""'' °' '" °"" "^'^^ ^here was a 
 ZnJ A ^*""'"' '"P"*' "'"«'*** ^'^ ^^^'- i« the mill- 
 owner 8 deportment toward Phillip. To say that they 
 
 widely different as the minister and the wealthy mill man 
 do not come together on that sacred ground, of friendship 
 even where one is indebted to the other for his life A 
 Zl l^LTi ^'^^ther from hanging and still be unabie to 
 save himself from selfishness. And the mill-owner went 
 hs way and Phillip went his. on a different basis so fa7a 
 common greeting went, but no nearer in that oneness o 
 ^ZJ V I ^^ "''^'' heart-to-heart communion pos- 
 merged under h.s indebtedness to Phillip. He returned tt 
 
 One day ,t the close of a month. Phillip came jqto the . 
 
 +f 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 93 
 
 cosey parsonage, and instead of going right up to h,s study 
 as tii^ hab.t was when his outs.de work was done tor ttie 
 the day, he ti.rew h.mself down on a couch by tnc open 
 hre. His wue was at work in the other room, but she 
 
 thTmaUer"'* '"'"^ ^'""'^ '"°^ '^"'' '"^""''^^ *^*^ **^ 
 
 - with ^fT^'^^'J'^'f' ""''^ *"'• ^"'y ^''" ''^^ « heart 
 *ith the s,ght and knowledge of all this wicked townW 
 am and misery." ^^w"* 
 
 PhilhW'"^"" ^""^^ *"* ''"'' *' '" °" your 'shoulders, 
 
 •*u ^"^ '[*'^'''*^ *''''"'P' *''"°** ^""'y- ^t was not that 
 either. Only his reply was like a great sob of conviction 
 that he must bear something of the town's burden. He 
 could not help it. 
 
 TheT-1 ^*™°^ *''** "°* '*^ ''"^^'"'"^ *°' * ™°'"*"*- 
 'I Don't^^you think you take it too seriously, Phillip ?" 
 
 sible." **"" ^'°^'''' *'°"»-*^°'°«- You are not respon- 
 
 "Am I not ? I am my brother's keeper. What quantity 
 of gu,lt may I not carry into the eternal kingdom if I do 
 
 se fish ? Yet I am only one person. I cannot prevent all 
 this snflfeiing alone." 
 
 , , " Of course you can't, Phillip. You wrong yotfrself to 
 take yourself to task so severely for the sin, of others 
 But what has stirred you up so at this time ?" Mrs 
 Strong understood Phillip well enough to know that some 
 
 to such despondency without some immediate practical 
 
 Phillip sat up on the couch and clasped his hands over 
 
 wLnT '1^*' earnestness that characterized him 
 
 when he was reused. 
 
 ■"I 
 
94 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 " Sarah, this town Slumbers on the smoking crest of a 
 volcano. There are more than fifteen thousand people 
 here m Milton out of work. A great many of them are 
 honest, temperate people who have saved up a little But 
 It is nearly gone. The mills are shut down, and on the 
 authority of men who ought to know, shut down for the 
 wmter. The same condition of affairs is true in a greater 
 »r less degree in the entire State and throughout the 
 country and even the world. People are suffering to-day 
 m this town for food and clothing and fuel through no 
 fault of their own. The same thing is true of thousands 
 and even hundreds of thousands all over the world. It is 
 an age that calls for heroes, martyrs, servants, saviours. 
 And right here in this ,town, where distress walks the 
 streets and actual want already has its clutch on many a 
 poor devil, society goes on giving its expensive parties 
 and hymg in its little round of selfish pleasure just as if 
 the volcano were a little downy bed of roses for it to go to 
 sleep on whenever it wearies of the pleasure and wishes to 
 retire to happy dreams. Oh, but the bubble will burst one 
 of these days, and then,—" 
 
 Phillip swept his hand upward with a fine gesture, and 
 sunk back upon the couch groaning. 
 
 " Pon't you exaggerate ?" The minister's wife put the 
 question gently. ^ 
 
 .u T°' t ^i* ' ^°* * '''* ' ^" *''"*^- I ««» not one of 
 the French Revolution fellows always lugging in blood 
 
 and destruction, and prophesying calamity to the nation 
 
 and the world if it doesn't gee and haw the way I tefl it to 
 
 Brtt I tell you, Sarah, it takes no prophet to see that a man 
 
 who is hungry and out of work is a dangerous man to have 
 
 around And it takes no very extraordinary-sized heart 
 
 to throb a little with righteous wrath when in such times 
 
 as these people go right on with their useless luxuries of 
 
 living, and sp«md as much in a sinpde evening's entertain- 
 
THE C«OcmxiON OF miLUf STItOHo! 95 
 
 How do you know they do ?" 
 
 pecJZ:'„«::^„:'X« •■•« »Y one o, .h.. 
 Phillip smoothed th*. «»«-, *^ evening paper." 
 
 -any one of trej;';^::^^^^ ''t^' '''^ "-»- 
 
 hundred to one huXw ^M * n««hborhood of one 
 
 Here's the GoTden's pal ? '°""''- ^°*>^ '^"« ' 
 
 They will spend! le^t'^^TerT" °' '^^'^"'^ '''^^'^^■ 
 flowers; and^efre:; el w t ; fifr *''^^^ '°"^" ^- 
 another twenty-five- and inllf! , ^ '"°''''' ««d «nusic 
 and so on. Is tha't rfl lltaf ' T"'^''"'^ ***^«'- 
 people ought to live now ?" '" ' "'"'' '"^ "» 
 
 spent^L:rthatTsh'el!:tf '"f °^ ^" ^''^ -o-^ 
 ^. " Ye, bu^ hoi Lny7or:,:Vi^ if ^"^ ''""'V 
 ditures ? Only a select ilTl.T.u^^ ^^ '"'^ '^^P*"' 
 who are least iri neld oit J say tle'J^."* -''^ ^'^^^ °°" 
 members of churches have L ^ u "'*'^" P'^'^P'* ^nd 
 
 that face us as a (ow„ and a „ J ' T^"' *^^ '=°"*''*'°"^ 
 have no right to mdu^^ th^l^^^^^^^^^ --'d. I say they 
 tent in these ways I !.„" 1 nu P^*»'">^« to this ex- -.^ 
 of it." ^'- ' ^"°^ Chnst would not approve * 
 
 " ^^7''.!"^^**°"^*' "«*' Phillip." 
 <toubt .V:.r:L'\:°';!t"^^^^^^^^ not a particle of 
 Jesus Christ to spendToVth. ./'*'?* ^''' * ^^^^^'P'^ ot 
 or aesthetic pleas^es money S"'°; °' ''' ^''^^'-^ 
 the hungry bodies of mTn "Torov H *'"^^* *° ^*^ '«'*'"^ 
 «nr labor for their "cti^J^ntrT "''^'"^ "^'="- 
 pleasures that a man can livi^ »./». , °' *^°""« those 
 
 world society ougj^ to d L! TI" ^° *"^«« oi the 
 
 tomed Pleasures and ly teTfoT ?. '°";'' "' '^^ -«- 
 sufTerinff ---J-: ..I "self for the sake of ♦»»- - 
 
 -^ '^^-^^ "="^- ^"««a<i of that, the membe^i; 
 
96 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 the very Church of Christ on earth spend more in a single 
 evening's entertainment for people who don't need it 
 than they give to the salvation of men in a whole year. 
 " I protest out of the soul God gave me against such 
 wicked selfishness. And I will protest though society 
 spurn me from it as a bigot, a puritan and a boor. For 
 society in Christian America is not Christian in this 
 matter,— no, not after the Christianity of Christ I " ' 
 
 "What can you do about it, Phillip ? " His wife asked 
 the question sadly. She had grown old fast since coming 
 to Milton. And a presentiment of evil would, in spite of 
 her naturally cheery disposition, cling to her whenever 
 she considered Phillip ^nd his work. 
 " I can preach on it, and I will." 
 " Be wise, Phillip. You tread on difficult ground when 
 you enter society's realm." 
 
 " Well, dear, I will be as wise as the serpent and as 
 harmless as a dove, although I must confess I never knew 
 just exactly how much that verse meant. But preach on it 
 I must and will." 
 
 And when the first Sunday of the month came, fhillip 
 did preach on it, to the dismay of several members of his 
 church who were in the habit of giving entertainments 
 and card parties on a somewhat elaborate scale. 
 
 He had never preached on the subject of amusements, 
 and he stated that he wished it to be plainly understood 
 that he was not preaching on the subjec* now. It was a 
 question which went deeper than that, and took hold of the 
 very first principles of social science; A single passage in 
 the sermon will show the drift of it all. 
 
 "We have reached a time in the history of the worid 
 when It is the Christian duty of every man who calls him- 
 self a discple of the Master to live on a simpler, less 
 extravagant basis. The worid has been living beyond its 
 means Modem civilization has been exorbitant in its 
 demands. And every dollar foolishly sot^nt *n.A.^ «,.,«„ 
 
THE MTCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 97 
 
 of JZitoZlt^^^^^^^ entertainment given by people 
 
 which money i, Lv7Z I « " '" '''"' ''"^ "«"". i" 
 is in mv ?1 °" ^°*"«' delicacies and dress 
 
 He would say thaHtl tn ' '"^ ^'■*" *'" 8'^''- ^tu 
 
 Pense at hfs par Llr """!'«*l'y enjoyment and ex- 
 
 passing. He wou d ay ^ha^" ''""*^' "*"'^'' ^ "'^ 
 «iven where Peopt ml „ neToTthel ""V^' '^ 
 benefit. He would say thl" whe„ . ""* ' ^"'' ^'^'^ 
 
 tion of ours to-dav iAc \ '°'^" " '" *"« «'"»- 
 
 any mate'a bles f„: V„T ' T' '°'" ^'^ ^^'^^'^ "" ^^ 
 modern Christ Heweretre iTt ^'^ ^P'"* ^^ *'"' 
 the whole world t^e „«essftv ' J f'"" 7"'** "'"*"'' *° 
 sive style of living a„d Ih n '""'''"' ^"' ^^P^"' 
 
 the part of soZv' ilr^u T u ' '''""' ""-*'«"'»' «" 
 is society doing now wfr'^'r' °' "«''■ ^^''^^ 
 When it^ivesl Tri , brLTirt" ' 'r^^'"^ '' 
 much ^n getting UD the^.„»! * 'P*'"'' **'« « 
 
 makes for'the Poor^^'lC XTfTllJh n"" '"" ^^ '* ^ 
 you think I am severe T At ^f '''" '' «^^"" • ^° 
 
 va.^ Church. whTh^'bet' C^xt nt^oP '" '^^ "^'- 
 for the world this year bef . ^°"'' ''^*="fi« 
 
 too strict or DarticuJar .rh '°"'''"" "^= ^°^ ^^'"^ 
 
 times that the Taw of se;vic; n ''"" ^* ""^ '" ""'^h 
 
 insistence than e7er And L " "^°" "' ^'^'^ «"^»«'- 
 the ages gone. Christt to d"; T; *'^" '"""^ ^"^ °^ 
 t-enty centuries of reverS on ' wi" °"'" *"' "'*'' 
 deny himself and take Jn ?! ^''O'^ever will not 
 
 disciple."' ' "P '"^ ^™««' he cannot be xMy 
 
 phi% Ld^ru?^:rea'fr ^"' ''°'^^" ^°-^- -•'-h 
 
 ""!i:c rroni ilie servic«» in « * • """ "'" "'^"^ 
 
 service m a towenng rage. -"That settles 
 
t 
 
 H 
 
 li- 
 
 
 ps THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. . 
 
 Calvary Church for me," said Mrs. Golden, as she tlung 
 herself out of the building after tht service was over. " 1 
 consider that the most insulting sermon I ever heard from 
 any minister. It is simply outlandish; and how the church 
 can endure such preaching much longer is a mystery to 
 me. I don't go near it again while Mr. Strong is the min- 
 ster I" Phillip did not know it yet, but he was destined to 
 find out that society carries a tremendous power in its use 
 of the word "outlandish" applied to either persons or 
 things. 
 
 V/hen the evening service was over PhiUip, as his 
 habit was, lay down on the couch in front of the open 
 fire imtil the day's exci^f ment had subsided a littie. it was 
 almost the only evening in the week when he gave himself 
 up to complete res^ of ttiind and body. 
 
 He had been lying there about an hour when Mrs 
 Strong, who had been moving the plants back from one 
 of the windows and had been obliged to raise a curtain, 
 stepped back into the room with an exclamation. 
 
 " Phillip I There is someone walking back and forth 
 in front of'the house! I have heard the steps ever since 
 we came home. And just now I saw a man .:top and 
 look in here. Who can it be f" 
 
 " Maybe it's the man with the burglar lantern come 
 back to get his knife," said Phillip, who had always made 
 a little fun of that incident as. his wife had tola it. How- 
 ever, he rose and went over to the window. Sure enough, 
 there was a man out on the sidewalk iooking straight at 
 tht house. He was standing perfectly still. 
 
 Phillip and his wife stood by the window looking at 
 the figure outside, and as' it did not move away, at last 
 Phillip grew a little impatient and went to the door to 
 open it and ask the man what he meant by staring into 
 people*& houses in that fashion. 
 
 " Now, Phillip, do be careful, won't you ?'* entreated 
 his wife, anxiously. 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OP piullIP STRONG 99 
 
 « y-t'rcr r-.™ v„„^°™ °'' '"" ""» "« ■«" 
 
 there nn tu n ""'^ "'' '"*'"d of Standing 
 
 wh?,:: .t,.""" ™''"'"^ --' •"" -«»« "» wonde' 
 
 (i«»r° cTeT '° ."'".''•'"'' •"■■ '""""' '"''("ion th. 
 
 - Tuni, ::, tn t: .Tmr '"" ■"°" '"""• ™""' 
 
 It wa, no, becans, ,he f,c. „a. .hat of an enemy or 
 «en..d to apnng from ,h. recollection of iL such 1 
 
 p«:rf:r:rc!rr-n;:„i^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 cold and t,red. Phillip, „ho never could resisTth. m,,^ 
 H-M^lVjiJ^tea?, r;?"' -^•""'■"^ "• "-"' »' 
 
 -r q rtrr lUt ezxr hi^;--? 
 
 X^tirartlm"""' ""^ -"'- "' ^ ^ - 
 
 .«.S£sra":fro^rri-.e":.ii°!.--' 
 
 - a voice chat sounded singularly sweet and'true-r 
 
 
lOO THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 \- 
 
 " You do me mtich honor, sir. The fire feels good this 
 chilly evening, and the food will be very acceptable. And 
 I have no doubt you have a good warm bed that I could 
 occupy for the night." 
 
 Phillip stared hard at his unexpected guest, and his 
 wife, who had started out of the room to get the lunch, 
 shook her head vigorously as she stood behind the visitor, 
 as a sign that Phillip should refuse such a strange request. 
 Phillip was taken ahack a little, and he looked puzzlel. 
 The words were uttered in the utmost simplicity. 
 
 "Why, yes, we can arrange that all right," he said. 
 " There is a spare room, and — excuse me a moment while 
 I go and help tb get our lunch." Phillip's wife was tele- 
 graphing him to come" into the other room, and he 
 obediently got up and went. 
 
 "Now, Phillip," whispered his wife when* they were 
 out in the dining-room. " You know that is a risky thing 
 10 do. You are all the time inviting all kinds of characters 
 in here. We can't keep this man all night Who ever 
 heard of ^ch a thing as a perfect stranger coming out 
 with a request like that ? I believe the man is crazy. It 
 certainly will not- do to let him stay here all night." 
 Phillip looked puzzled. 
 
 "I declare it is strange! He doesn't appear like an 
 ordinary tramp. But somehow I don't think he's crazy. 
 Why shouldn't we let him have the bed in the room oflf 
 the east parlor ? I can light the fire in the stove there 
 and malce him comfortable." 
 
 *" But we don't know who he is. Phillip, you let your 
 sympathies run away with your judgment." 
 
 " Well, little woman, let me go in and talk with him 
 a while. You get the lunch, and we'll see about the rest 
 afterward." 
 
 So Phillip went back and sat down again. He was 
 hardly seated when his visitor said : 
 
 
 vv my Slaying nere tu-iiight, of 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. loi 
 
 course I don't wish to. I don't feel comfortable to remain 
 where I'm not welcome." 
 
 "Oh. you're perfectly welcome," said Phillip, hastily 
 wuh^s^ome emba^-assment. while his strange visij; 
 
 " I'm not crazy, only a little odd. you know Perfectiv 
 hornless. It will be perfectly safe for you toZjZ:^ 
 
 The man spread his white hands out before the fire 
 wh.le Phillip sat and watched ' " . with a c main tascfna: 
 
 Mrs Strong brought m a substantial lunch of colH 
 
 •cquest p aced ,t on a table in front of the open fire where 
 he and h.s remarkable guest ate like hungry men 
 
 removeTVaf: '' ' '""'' ''' '"" ^^^^ -<> ^he table 
 removed hat a scene occurred which would be incredible 
 
 unfolded t t^r ^'fi^'^J^^nce of this event as it is 
 
 umoided m the movement of this story. 
 
I02 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 f 
 
 "I heard your sermon this morning," said Phillip's 
 guest, while Mrs. Strong was removing the table to the 
 dining-room. 
 
 " Did you ?" asked Philljp, because he could nbt think 
 of anything wiser to say. 
 
 "Yes," said the strange visitor, simply. He was so 
 silent after saying this one word that Phillip did what he 
 was no^in the habit of" doing. He always Shrank back 
 sensitively from asking an opinion of his pr^ching from 
 any one except his wife. But now he could not help 
 saying : 
 
 " W .at did you think of it ?" 
 
 " It was one of the be^j^ sermons I ever heard. But 
 somehow it did not sound sincere." 
 
 "What!" exclaimed Phillip, almost angrily. If there 
 was one thing he felt sure about, it was the sincerity of his 
 preaching. Then he checked his feeling, as he thought 
 how foolish it would be to get angry at a passing tramp, 
 who was probably a little out of his mind. Yet the man's 
 remark had a strange power to Phillip. He tried to shake 
 It off as he looked harder at him. The man looked over 
 at Phillip and repeated gravely, shaking his head, "Not 
 sincere." 
 
 Mrs. Strong came back into the room, and Phillip 
 mot- ned her to sit down near him while he said, "And 
 what makes you think I was not sincere ?" 
 
 "You said the age in which we lived demanded that 
 people live in a far simpler, less extravagant style." 
 
 rnilllD. CiaSDinff hla hanAm nVM- UU 1^ J - . • ... 
 
 r «iy s-.Kcc siia gazing at IliS 
 

 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. I03 
 
 Singular guest with earnestness. The m^n's thick white 
 hair ghstened in the open firelight like spun glass. 
 
 'And you said that Christ would not approve of people 
 spending money for flowers, food, and dress on those who 
 did not need it, when it could more wisely be expended for 
 the benefit of those who were in want." 
 
 "Yes; those were not my exact wDrds, but that was 
 my idea." 
 
 "Your idea. Just so. And yet we have had here in this 
 little lunch, or. as^ you called it. a 'bite of something,' 
 three different kinds of meat, two kinds of bread, hothouse 
 grapes, and the richest kind of milk." 
 
 The man said all this in the quietest, most calm manner 
 possible; and Phillip stared at him. more assured than 
 ever that he was a little crazy. Mrs. Strong looked amused, 
 and said. You seemed to enjoy the lunch pretty well " 
 1 he man had eaten with a zest that was redeemed from 
 greediness only by a delicacy of manner that no tramp ever 
 possessed. 
 
 "My dear madam," said the man. "perhaps this was a 
 case where the food was given to one who stood really in 
 need of it." 
 
 Phillip started as if he had suddenly caught a meaning 
 from the man's words he had not before heard in them. 
 
 Do you thmk it was an. extravagant lunch, then?" 
 he asked with a very slight laugh. 
 
 _The man looked straight at Phillip, and replied slowly, 
 xes, for the times in which we live!" 
 A sudden silence fell on that group of three in the parior 
 of the parsonage, lighted up by the soft glow of the coal 
 Jire. No one except a person thoroughly familiar with 
 the real character of Phillip Strong could have told why 
 that silence fell on him instead of a careless laugh at the 
 crazy remark of a half-witted tramp. Just how long the 
 silence lasted. Ph«!lin A'.a «..* 1 ^ . .* 
 
 broken he foumf l^seS" sayin^r"' """^ ''"'" " ""^ 
 
i04 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 Where are you from ? And 
 
 " Man, who are you ? 
 what is your name ?" 
 
 His guest turned his head a little, and replied, "When 
 you called me in here you stretched out your hand and 
 called me Brother.' Just now you called me by the great 
 
 ' B?o'thefMan.' ''T "' ""' '''"'''' ^°" "^^ "» ^ 
 
 rttier.l*'r"'/.r'°''" ^'"'" ^^^^ P^'"'P' «""'"« - 
 l-ttle to thmk of the very strangeness of the whole affair 
 
 your reason for thinking I was not sincere in my sermon 
 
 evening?'"^ "'"' '''''"'' °^ '^' extravagant lunch this 
 
 "Not altogether. There are other reasons." The man 
 suddenly bowed his head.between his hands, and Phillip's 
 wife whispered to him. " Phillip, what is the us. of talking 
 With a crazy man ? You are tired, and it is time to put ou! 
 he hghts and go to bod. Get him out of the house now 
 as soon as you can." 
 
 .. li^U T7^" f'f ^'^ ^^''^ ""^ ^«"t on talking just 
 as If he had not broken off abruptly. 
 
 "Other reasons. In your sermon you tell peoole th..v 
 . ought to live less luxuriously. You point 'tCm to tJe 
 
 roTk" Youtal/T '^'''' ^'^^"^^"^^'^ -" - - ': 
 work. You call attention to the great poverty and dis- 
 
 people hve far simpler, less extravagant lives. And yet 
 here you hve yourself like a prince. Like a prince" he 
 repeated, after a peculiar gesture, which seemed to ndude 
 not^only what was in the room, but all that was in the 
 
 oJTZ f "'"^ '* ^'' *'^' ^' P«°P'« <J° *he„ they sus- 
 pect a third person being out of his mind, and saw that 
 her expression was very much like bis own eeUng thouLh 
 
 It certainly did look luxurious, even if not prince y 
 The parsonage was an old mansion which had once be- 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. I05 
 
 longed to a wealthy but eccentric sea captain. He had 
 bujlt to please himself, something after the colonial fashion: 
 and large square rooms, generous fireplaces with quaint 
 mantels, and tiling, and hardwood floors gave the house 
 an appearance of solid comfort that approached luxury. 
 The church in Milton had purchased the property from 
 the heirs, who had become involved in ruinous specula- 
 tion and parted with the house for a sum little represent- 
 ing its real worth. It had been changed a little, and mod 
 ernized with new heating apparatus, although the old fire- 
 places still remained; and one spare room, an annex to 
 the house proper, had been added recently. There was an 
 a.r of decided comfort bordering on luxury in the different 
 pieces of furniture and the whole furnishing of the room 
 You understand," said Phillip, as his glanc'e travelled 
 back to his visitor, "that this house is not mine. It be- 
 ongs to my church. It is the parsonage, and I am simply 
 hving in It as the minister." . 
 
 " Yes. I understand. You. a minister, and living ,n this 
 
 Sheads^"'*" ''*''" ^'°^'^ ''^''^ "°* *''"■* *° '^y 
 
 intnlt ^^^^'^ ^-^^'^^ '""'' temptation to anger steal 
 mto him, and again he checked himself at the thought :, 
 The man is certainly insane. The whole thing is simply 
 absurd. I will get rid of him. And yet-" 
 
 ,fon"' t°Tr' '^^^' °*^ ^ '*''""^*= «"«J P°^"f«l impres- 
 sion which the stranger's words had made upon him 
 
 centy on Phillip's part, which made him restless. Phillip 
 determined to question him and see if he really would de 
 
 g.ven him, do you think I am living too extravagantly ?" 
 Yes, in these times and after Rijrt, o e--,^- » 
 " What would you have me do ?» Phillip' asked the 
 
io6 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 question half serious/y. half amused at himself for asking 
 advice from such a source. 
 
 "Do as you preach others ought to" 
 Vuiv^''!u^u ^"^"""f^" °ver the room. And again 
 ^an'';::;^:'^ -""' ^"^^--'^ °^ -- ^" ^h« ?tr^«e 
 
 uJu' A u?'^'' ^^'''" " ^'^ *«''«*» *° be called, bowed 
 h.s l^ad between his hands again; and Mrs. Strong whis- 
 
 tTkee^^th "'' '■ " ^" '* '' "^^^'"'^ -- '^- f-"^h 
 W. r .' V'' '::?' '°"«^'''- '^''^ '"^" •« ^^^^dently insane. 
 
 somethmg terr.ble. Get rid of him. Phillip. This may be 
 a trick on the part of the whiskey men " 
 
 wha^to'ir" .if "'?"' PJ^-'^ebeen so puzzled to know 
 stranJr. t ^ i * ^""''" ^''''^- «"« ^«» 0"^ the- 
 irs true h! h . T" "'*' "'° ''^^ ^^^"^ '"*° his h^use 
 llV^. u ^"" "'^'**'*' ^"* ''°« within he had in 
 Mted himself to stay all night, and then had accused Ws 
 entertamer of living too extravagantly, and calld h m an 
 
 he had declared his name to be "Brother Man." and that 
 
 pea faL^PHn"''""'" ^'^^^ "^' ^'^^ -^^r inckmatfofS 
 peace, and Phillip's wonder reached its limit 
 
 In response to his wife's appeal Phillip rose Aruptly 
 
 TcLT. f . "^'"^^ ''"^ ''^*"«^<J' »"d the moan of 
 
 a coming storm was in the air 
 
 ,.«.?!, '"°'"*"* ^'l'* ^'''"'P ^P"'*^^ ^''^ d^*"- his strange 
 guest also rose, and putting on his hat he said, as he movfd 
 
 cr;.^^;:?''""^^^---^^''---^-^^^ 
 
 PeS^i:i:r;^^^--I-t-Hewas 
 home^""' *'" "^"^ stay to-night ? Where is your, 
 "My home is with my friends." replied the man. lU 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. I07 
 
 la.d his hand on the door, opened it. and had made one 
 step out on the porch, when Phillip, seized with an impulse, 
 ^id h.s hand on his arm. gently but strongly pulled him 
 back into the hall, shut the door, and placed his back 
 u^sinst it* 
 
 v.\Zhr "r°* ^° °"* '"'° '^''' '''''"' ""t.l I know 
 whether you have a place to go for the night." 
 
 The man hesitated curiously, shuffied his feet on the 
 «>at, put his hand up to his face, and passed it across his 
 eyes with a gesture of great weariness. There was a look 
 of loneliness and of unknown sorrow against the whole 
 figure that touched Phillip's keenly sensitive spirit irre- 
 
 TuLu '"'" ""'' ^ ''"'" ""* °^ ^'' "ght mind, he 
 was probably harmless. They could not turn him out nto 
 the night if he had nowhere to go. 
 
 "Brother Man." said Phillip, gently, "would you like 
 to stay here to-n.ght ? Have you anywhere else to stay ?" 
 
 sit downV ''"'"^ ^ ^'" '° '"'"• ^"*"°- S^«- L«t"« 
 He laid his hat on the table, resumed his seat and asked 
 Ph.ll.p for a Bible. Phillip handed him one. He opt d 
 and read a chapter from the Prophet Isaiah, and then 
 
 h ol;::. '''"' ?°"'"^ ^'^ '^"^ ''**-- Ws hand"; 
 he offered a prayer of such wonderful beauty and spiritua 
 
 srf::t:sr:r^^^"""-"-^--^ 
 
 to Sn''.%^'V""'^ *^' ''"^"•^"- Strong whispered 
 to PhUhp. Surely we cannot shut him out into the sLm 
 We will give him the spare room." 
 
 Phillip said not a word. He at once built up a fire in 
 
 Brother Man." he said, simply, "stay here as if hU 
 were your own house You are welcome L Ihe "ght '" • 
 Yes. heartily welcome." said Phillip's wife af // to 
 
 make amends for anv H««k*. -u_ u.^ ., . .' *^ " to 
 ..-,. ,„ ^,,^ .J3^ jj,jj Deioig 
 
io8 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 a, J"' ''^^yj^'"^'other Man" raised his hand almost 
 as f,„ benediction. And they left him to his rest 
 
 wUhin. He waitedtSSe wtL anTth ^^c Jj ^^ 
 To his amazement there was .10 one there The h.A 
 
 Phill.p exclaimed, and his wife came in. 
 ;>o our ..ueer guest has flown! He mi.,f t,, u 
 very still about it; I heard no noise Wher^ , '" 
 
 pose he is P And who do you s^pp^ose he ^ r? ^°" ^"•'- 
 
 Bon^ yon,ir;::;^-e:::d^; ::-': i -t ^^^"- ^ 
 
 Man?'" Mrs Slrl^T a *'"'"""*'" ^'"tl"' 
 
 '«.e™ „h„ ,„ .H„„* .H. :„a:'r '.her; -"*■ "- 
 ~. ,!;:t. tl'i rr r.r - ™ •-' - 
 
 Phn'l,?°''°° "''°'' ■" *^' ■^"'l' '" ">« particular V asked 
 
 DUMt snowing funou£!y 
 
 h„f 1, i^7*"* '"*° ''•' '*"^y ^°^ t''^ forenoon as usual 
 but he d.d very little writing. His wife could hear h"m 
 pacmg the floor restlessly. "^ 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. I09 
 
 n e„t,on of going out mto the storm to see if he couldn't 
 settle down to work better. 
 
 »f..?' """"'.7* ^2^ ^''^ "°* '■"*"^" ""*•' the middle of the 
 afternoon. Mrs. Strong was a little alarmed. 
 
 "Where have you been all this time. Phillip ?_in this 
 ternbie storm too! You are a monument of snow. Stlnd 
 out here m the kitchen while I sweep it off you " 
 
 around him with a broom, and he good-naturedly sub- 
 mtted to being swept down "as if I were being worked 
 mto shape for a snow man," h? said. 
 
 '• Where have you been ? Give an account of yourself." 
 Q u T^„^^^" «einK how some other people live 
 Sarah, the Brother Man was not so very cra^y after all 
 He has more than half converted me." . 
 
 "Did you find out anything about him ?" 
 Yes. several of the older citizens here recognized my 
 
 a Sr '"" ''''' "^ ""' '^ '^^^'"'-' and'has Jte 
 JT^'u °"" ' ^'"'^^y mill-owner in Clinton He 
 
 Ibout'iTm But rm','"" ""' ' ""^^ «"^ °"* '"°- 
 thing?" ''""^'■^' '^*" ^ ''^^'^ ^ hite of some- 
 
 1^ Haven't -you had any dinner ?" 
 
 "No; I got interested and didn't stop." 
 
 Where have you been .?" 
 "Among the tenements." 
 "How are the people getting oh there ?" 
 
 " Maybe I am for a narf ^r .♦ n... ... _ 
 
110 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 to ask who is to blame in such cases. At any rate suo- 
 posing the fathers and mothers in the tenements are 'them- 
 seves to blame for their own wretchedness this fearful day 
 hav.„g brought it all on themselves by their own sinfulness.' 
 does that make innocent children and helpless babes any 
 warmer and better clothed and fed ? Sarah. I have seen 
 
 ioXi" ""T/ ''""' ''"' "''^' ""' *«"* *° join the 
 
 bomb-throwers of Europe almost." 
 
 at tt"; M*'""^ '""' "P behind Phillip's chair as he sat 
 at the table eatmg. and placed her hand on his brow She 
 
 feehng for others. It seemed to her it was becoming a 
 S^"ar'' f""'/^-'"« ^™ o.t, and sheTea^^d^ 
 rclafned uXken"'*"' ^"' ''' '"^^^ ^ ^'^ -'"^ 
 
 witli lTiX""°* '^^ "'°''' *'''" °"' "'"' ^''•"'P'" ^''^ '^^'^ 
 
 "No but if I can make the church see its duty at this 
 
 ,rV !, K "' ^'■°PP'=^ ^'^ '^""«= and fork, wheeled 
 
 iT"" W t' '" '" ^'"^' ^"^ ^-^'^'''- *»th hrques 
 t»on. Would you gfve up this home and be content to 
 
 trd: her? "^^^°" ''- - ^^^ ^- -^ -^-c: 
 
 and'suffer m""^ ^'"f"' ''"''*'^' "' ^'" «° ^"^where 
 
 "I need a little more time. There is a crisis near at 
 
 to do r^' . • '"" ^' '^'" ^' '^^ "^y the spirit of truth 
 to do what ,s necessary and for the better savLg of 'men " 
 
 work. All through the rest 6f the afternoon and in the 
 evenmg as he shaped his church and pulpit worl he 
 
 sTlt- °' f;^'-^*''- ^^-" -n^ in his ears and he 
 situahon at the tenements rose in the successiv^ oLtor.! 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 1 1 1 
 
 uf a panorama before his eyes. As the storm increased in 
 fury w.th the coming darkness, Phillip felt that it was typi- 
 cal m a certain sense of his own condition. He abandoned 
 the work he had been doing at his desk, and kneeling down 
 to IT r'"'; Mrs..Strong, coming up to the study 
 o see how h,s work was getting on, found him kneeling 
 there and went and Icneeled beside him while together they 
 sought the light through the storm ^ 
 
 So the weeks went by. and the first Sunday of the next 
 month found Phillip's Christ message even more direc 
 , and personal than any he had brought'to hi peZe . ^ 
 
 men's homeT' ^h"*; °' ''' ''"^ «°'"« into 'the'working: 
 
 t::^/oryTo"-.m";:r^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 action ought to be In 7haf !..• I- , ^ "^^^ "" °*" 
 
 And ,u »- j,v?r."rctr, "/--r- 
 
 Jay morning «ere astonished at the messw! 1^ .h' 
 
 - « he ..„.e to .he„ ,.o„ the ,::^^::S'j[:^ZZ 
 
 demlI■^.^taX'''■ea?: ,""' "" '" '" »"* "' "" 
 not mean brth t tl e„„^ T'.='''' "' ""'"«■ ' "M 
 
 n.arve,so, jir'^rXtrorSi::"; "' r 
 
 Christ we mnst .CZ^^: 3"'^ o, T" T '° 
 eonseeraled self-denial. I „i.h i, ,„ f 1° """''« ""'" 
 "ooJ as I go on that I d„ Z, 1 * <l"t.nctly „nder- 
 
 "miort of modi™ eiv ,i atZTd '' T'""'"' ""' 
 season. What 1 do wilhSL.,? T'' "'''"'^ "' "■« 
 «".i.^l. has been iurT^i i^ZT"''^'.'' ''' '"'''' 
 'o .his ,o„„. that i, the ntlr. : oTthr^'"; """"* 
 honor the Head of the Church ILl- "'' ""''' '■> 
 
 Him and be saved in this Uff a'j i""* ""=" '° ^ieve 
 ■Wiling to do b, "....'"''.'^ ■■«' they must b. 
 
 ^ ,.„J. JJJ_y J.^^^ 
 
 done to make 
 
I «2 THE CRUClFIXiaW OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 I-' 
 
 use of the physical comforts and luxuries of their homes 
 for the blessing and Christianixing of this community. In 
 this particular I have myself failed to set you an example. 
 The fact that I have so failed is my only reason for making 
 this master public this morning. 
 
 " The situation in Milton to-day is exceedingly serious. 
 I do not need to prove it to you by figures. If any busi- 
 ness man will go through the ten^nents he will acknow- 
 ledge my statements. If any woman now in this house 
 will contrast those dens with her own home, she will, if 
 Christ is a power in her heart, stand in horror before such 
 a travesty of the ideal happy home of the workingman. 
 The destitution of the neighborhood is alarming. T'le 
 number of men out of work is dangerous. The complete 
 removal of all sympathy between the Church up here on 
 this street, and the tenement district is sadder than death. 
 O my beloved !" —Phillip stretched out his arms and 
 uttered a cry that rang in liie ears of those who heard it 
 and remained with some of them a memory for years— 
 " these things ought not to be ! Where is the Christ 
 spirit with us I Have we not sat in our comfortable houses 
 and eaten our pleasant food and dressed in the finest 
 clothing and gone to amusements aud entertainments with- 
 out number, while God's poor have shivered on the streets, 
 and his sinful ones have sneered at Christianity as they 
 walked by our church doors ? 
 
 " It is true we have given money to charitable causes. 
 It is true the town council has organized a bare? < far tltf - 
 care and maintenance of these in want. It is tru« nor 
 bers of Calvary Church witu other churches a* ,» ; u •>t 
 have done something to relieve the immediate uisuess of 
 the town. But how much have wc given of ourselves to 
 those in need ? Do we reflect that to reach souls and win 
 them, to bring back humanity to God and the Christ, the 
 ^^ristian must do something different from the giving of 
 > -tv nov 5,nd then ? He must give a part of himselt 
 
Tllfi CKUCUIXION OF PUlLLi, STKONG. 113 
 
 U 'mr* '"' '"^"' "^ "'♦''"« >"" ^- '"-c tius clmrci. 
 
 U".idn.g -way ,ro.u iiu» ,ir.cl nuo u.c .cucuc.u Uuu.c. 
 '•"■■^ vvc ,„.^i.^ ^,,, ^^^^^.^^^^ ^^ ^ u.cr. ' 
 
 you Will paruon iiic a lust ui ;.ii 1 
 
 T>.« « people into breathless attention 
 
 Ihe parsonage in which 1 am now livinTl »" 1 
 even a luxurious dwelling It h,, ? '*"■*'' 
 
 ^ou are familiar wi th u / ? '*"'* '*"■«* '■o°"»»- 
 church pays me is ^wo U "f "*• ''''' '^'^^ »'"« 
 more than pr"v d or ™ "" "'"' ' '"'" "^''=" 
 
 cided to do is tWs f 7 r'"'"'"- ^^'' 1 have de- 
 ary one hal/Ud app y the /h '^T' '° "'"«=« ^''^ -'" 
 fitting up cf the n!^/ " '''^"'""^ ^*^"«" ^o the 
 
 childfen. or'ir some ucr"'' " '^ "'"^'^ '^' '^°'"«^'«" 
 
 ««lf to^our best TuCVX: "'"' "^^ ^°'"'"*"^ 
 ^ this church alone o mrn,l*i„ I " ™°°*^ *="°"«h i« 
 solely, and noJa sin^l' T''^ ^" institution hand- 
 
 hardship whatever wi^, T" " °' "^^'^"^ '"^^^ ^^^ 
 io-er pa.t of the town wherrr'° * '^"^'^ ""«^ ^h'^' 
 after the people andTve'mn" "" '"°'^ ^'^''^ ^«<=h 
 i P-Pose for myself It riofr"^ ''?• ^''^^ " ^'"^ 
 and the educated do no ne^d thr"'' '. ''"^^* '''' "^^ 
 I'he rich and the poor both „eedth/rf °'" ''* '^^"'•'=''- 
 «ut 1 an. firmly convinced Z. " '"°''* abundantly. 
 
 ch«n:h -emb.rrhip°r:;V';, " ^T" "°" ^^^' ^'^^ 
 ;tself more than in the later a« of .h "'.* """'* «'^« 
 for the sake of win„i„, men 't»,!M'1T'^ " »>- ^one 
 
 -.. ...t ..e a definite, physii.-n;:^;;^',:::^^:!^ 
 
114 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 shape. The Church must get back to the apostolic times 
 in some particulars and an adaptation of community of 
 goods and a sharing of certain aspects of civilization must 
 mark the church membership of the coming twentieth cen- 
 tury. An object lesson in self-denial large enough for men 
 to see, a self-denial that actually gives up luxuries, money, 
 and even harmless pleasures — this is the only kind that will 
 make much impression on the people. I bc'';ve if Christ 
 were on the earth He would again call for this expres- 
 sion of loyality to Him. He would again say, ' So likewise 
 whosoever he be of you that forsake not all that he hath, 
 he cannot be My disciple ?' 
 
 "All this is what I 9jall on the members of this church 
 to do. Do I say that you ought to abandon your own 
 houses and live somewhere else ? No. I eta decide only 
 for myself in a matter of that kind. But this much I do 
 say. Give yourselves in some genuine way to save this 
 town from its wretchedness. It is not so much your money 
 as your own soul that the sickness of the world demands. 
 This plan has occurred to me. Why could not every 
 family in this church become a saviour to some other 
 family that is actually in need of saving ? Let the church 
 family interest itself in the other, know the extent of its 
 wants as far as possible, go to it in person, let the Chris- 
 tian home come into actual touch with the unchristian; 
 in short, become a natural savior to one family. There are 
 dozens of families in this church that could do that. It 
 would take money. It would take time. It would mean 
 real self-denial. It would call for all your Christian grace 
 and courage. But what does all this church membership 
 and church life mean if not just such sacrifice ? We cannot 
 give anything to this age of more value than our own 
 selves. The world of sin and want and despair and dis- 
 belief is not hungering for money or mission schools or 
 charity balls or state institutions for the relief of distress, 
 !OT!iig s^nnsnsu ni6ti and wOiiicii, who 
 
 i-.-i. t 
 
 puisiizif. 
 
I , 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. II5 
 
 reach out live, warm hands, who are willing to go and give 
 themselves, who will abandon, if necessary, if Christ calls 
 for It, the luxuries they have these many years enjoyed in 
 order that the bewildered, disheartened, discontented, un- 
 happy, smful creatures of earth may actually learn of the 
 love of God through the love of man. And that is the only 
 way the world ever has learned of the love of God Hu- 
 mamty brought that love to the heart of the' race, a^d it 
 will continue so to do until this earth's tragedy is all played 
 and the last light put out. Members of Calvary Church I 
 
 0! Z'T '"u^''"'''' "'"^ ''''' "^'^ *° ^° ^^'"ething for 
 >our Master that will really be a self-denial for you. Con- 
 sider the age in which you live. And give yoLelves to 
 
 you"rearm *'ll "''' """ '^''^^^ ^^^""^ ^ <l-bt that 
 you •■eally mean what you say when you claim to be a dis- 
 aple of that One who. although rich, yet for our akes 
 
 al eaTl,', ' ^'""? "^ '" '^^^^"'^ ^'^^ '" -change for 
 
 uch^ln'"'T'' *'' ';.' "' "'•'^^ "^^ ' "-' ^"d Woody 
 crucit xion Are we Christ's disciples unless we follow 
 
 ":.t:^^ ^^' ^' '" - o- - '"w"^: 
 
 Phillip accordingly waited in one of the <;,,nW, u , 
 class-rooms with the trustees whohL Sunday-school 
 after the sermon, and deSd llt.rLZTc^T' 
 once with the pastor. " **"* '=°"^^''- 
 
1 16 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The door of the class-room was closed and Phillip and 
 the trustees were together. There was a moment of em- 
 barrassing silence, and then the spokesman for the Board, 
 a nervous little man, said : 
 
 " Mr. Strong, we hardly know just what to say to this 
 proposition of yours this morning about going out of the 
 parsonage and turning it into an orphan asylum. But it 
 is. certainly a very remarkable proposition, and we felt as 
 if we ought to meet you at once and talk it oyer." 
 
 " It's simply impossible," spoke up one of the trustees. 
 "In the first place it is impracticable as a business pro- 
 position." 
 
 " Do you think so ?" asked Phillip, quietly. 
 
 "It is out of the question!" said the first speaker, ex- 
 citedly. " The church will never listen to it in the %.orld. 
 For my part, if Brother Strong wishes to—" 
 
 At that moment the sexton knocked at the door and. 
 said a man was outside very anxious to see the minister 
 and have him come down to his house. There had been an 
 accident, or a fight, or something. Some one was dying 
 and wanted Mr, Strong at once. So Phillip hastily ex- 
 cused himself and went out, leaving the trustees together 
 
 The door was hardly shut again when the speaker who 
 had been interrupted jumped to his feet and exclaimed ■ 
 
 "As I was saying, for my part, if Brother Stiv^ug wishes 
 to indulge in this eccentric action he will not have the 
 sanction of my vote in the matter! It certainly is an en- 
 tirely unheard-of and uncalled-for proposition." 
 
 " Mr. Strong has, no doubt, a generous motive in this 
 proposed action," said the thirrf m,.mK«. r.t *u» b_-_j. 
 
tHE CRUCtFiXiOK Ot^ PHILLIP SfRONC. II7 
 
 " but the church will most certainly oppose any such step 
 as the givmg up of the parsonage. He exaggerates the need 
 
 theTdea " ''' ^ "''"'' ^' °"*^* '° "''°" ^'"^ °"* °^ 
 
 "We called Mr. Strong to the pastorate of Calvary 
 
 Church." sa.d another; " and it seems to me he came unZ 
 
 the conditions granted in our call. For the church to allow 
 
 such an absurd thing as the giving up of the parsonage tl 
 
 th,s proposed outside work would be a very un#ise move " 
 
 Yes, and more than that." said the first speaker " I 
 
 want to say very frankly that I am growing tired of the'way 
 
 things have gone since Mr. Strong came to us. What busi- 
 
 ZXL?!'Z ^'"f "'^'^ ^" *^«^ outsid?matt r , 
 mZ^ HIT r' "°*™P^°y«^ -«" and all the othe 
 
 iTtelv ' I w . '" '"'^^ '^' ^"^J^^* °f P^a^hing 
 
 lately ? I want a mm.ster who looks after his own parish 
 Mr. Strong does not call on his own people; he has not 
 
 Brethren, there ,s a growing feeling of discontent over this 
 
 ^^^ There was a short pause, and then one of the members 
 
 "Surely if Mr. Strong feels dissatisfied with his sur 
 
 ButheisS;/:x?™:s:^;::t::\rf^ 
 
 -u^s ^.entire sincerity. He is a^:::,::^^ r ^^ 
 
 see how the trustees can allow t m ^"T'^' ' '°"'* 
 other churches think of it ? CalvarvTh"^' T' ^°"'' '''' 
 anything of the kind, for the sake on? """°* '"°^ 
 would like to hear Mr Winw', "P"*^*'°"- B"t I 
 
 1 ""• winters nnmmn. I •- 
 
 siia^rn -^^c •■ -: i ijc nas HOt 
 
 Spoken J 
 
 yet. 
 
iiS 
 
 THE CRUClFlXtOfi Of PHlLLtt StRONG. 
 
 li'i 
 
 The rest turned to the mill-cwner, who, as chairman of 
 the Board, usually had much to say, and was regarded as 
 a shrewd and careful business adviser. In the excitement 
 of the occasion and discussion the usual formalities of a 
 regular board meeting had been ignored. 
 
 Mr. Winter was evidently embarrassed. He had lis- 
 tened to the discussion of the minister with his head bent 
 down and his thoughts in ^ whirl of emotion both for and 
 against the pastor. His naturally inclined business habits 
 contended against the proposition to give up the par- 
 sonage; his feelings of gratitude to the minister for his 
 personal help the night of the attack by the mob rose up 
 to defend him. There jjvas with it all an under-current of 
 self-administered rebuke that the pastor had set. the whole 
 church an example of unselfishness. He wondered how 
 many of the members would voluntarily give up half their 
 incomes for the good of humanity. He wondered in a con- 
 fused way how much he would give up hJmself. Phillip's 
 sermon had made a real impression on him. 
 
 "There is one point we have not discussed yet," he 
 said at last. "And that is Mr. Strong's offer of half his 
 salary to carry on the work of a children's refuge or some- 
 thing of that kind." 
 
 " How can we accept such an offer ? Calvary Church 
 has always believed in paying its minister a good salarv, 
 and paying it promptly; and we want our minister to live 
 decently and be able to appear as he should among the 
 best people," replied the nervous little man who had been 
 fiifst to speak. 
 
 " Still, we csnnot deny that it is a very generous thing 
 for Mr. Strong to do. He certainly is entitled to credit 
 for his unselfish proposal; no one can charge him with 
 being worldly-minded," said Mr. Winter, feeling a new 
 interest in the subject as he found himself defending the 
 minister. 
 
 •Are you in favor of allowing him to do what he pro- 
 
THfc CKtJClFlXlOfl OP PHILLIP STRONG. llg 
 
 poses ih the matter of the parsonage ?" asked another 
 
 I don't see that we can hinder Mr. Strong from living 
 anywhere he pleases. The church cannot compel him to 
 live in the parsonage." 
 
 "No, but it can ciJoose not to have such a minister'" 
 exclaimed the first speaker again, excitedly; " and I for 
 one am most decidedly opposed to the whole thing I do 
 
 rTspect " *^' '^""''^ '^" '"°* '* ^"'^ '"^'"*''" ''' '^^^' 
 "Do you think the church is ready to tell Mr. Strong 
 
 ^2;: ::;dr ^r"" ^""' ^"^ '°"^^^ ^'' --^ ^^• 
 
 (JLT:, ^°^ °"' °^ *''' '"""^'"' ""*^ ^ '^"°^ °the.s who 
 feel as I do if matters go on this way much longer. I tell 
 
 Took aTfh" ^^'r ' ''^'^"^ ^'^"^^^ '« -^^ -- ^ -«i" 
 Look at the Goldens and the Malvens and the Albergs. 
 
 They are all leavmg us; and the plain reason is the nature 
 of the preachmg. Why, you know yourself. Brother Win- 
 ter, never has the pulpit of Calvary Church heard such 
 preachmg on people's privale affairs " 
 
 that^to 7n''ZTu°""'^ "P '"^ "P'''^^ ^"«"'y' "What has 
 ha to do with he present matter ? If the minister wants 
 
 to try to stop ,t. As to the disposition of the parsonage 
 
 Irrang^"" '' '"^'""^ "'"'^'^ '""^^ -*'' the church to 
 
 The nervous, irritable little man who had spoken often- 
 est rose to his feet and exc!ainii.ff " v^., 
 of all th.-o *u , T \^^'*""«^, You can count me out 
 
 and h. . c^ ^''^ '"y ^^"^' °f the whole affair-" 
 
 and he went out of the room, leaving the rest of the Boa d 
 somewhat surprised and confused by his sudden departure 
 They remained about a quarter of an hour longer d s 
 cussmg the matter, and finally, at Mr. WinterV suXltion 
 Ltrril--/^--'*.- confer with the mSre 
 n-C-fr „, change his propc'sltion „,d. i„ Tmo:!" 
 
 
120 THE CRUCIFIXION Of PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 r:i 
 
 
 sermon. The rest of the trustees insisted that Mr. Winter 
 liimself should act as chairman of the committee, and after 
 some remonstrance he with great reluctance agreed to 
 do so. 
 
 So Phillip next evening, as he sat in his study mapping 
 out the week's work and wondering a little what the 
 church would do in the face of his proposal, received the 
 committee, welcoming them in his bright, hearty manner. 
 He had been notified on Sunday evening of the approach- 
 ing conference. The committee consisted of Mr. Winter 
 and two other members of the Board. 
 
 Mr. Winter opened the conversation with considerable 
 embarrassment and an pident repugnance to his share in 
 the matter. 
 
 "Mr. Strong, we have come, as you are aware, to talk 
 over your proposition of yesterday morning concerning 
 the parsonage. It was a great surprise to us all." 
 
 Phillip smiled a little. " Mrs. Strong says I act too 
 much on impulse, and do not prepare people enough for 
 my statements. But one of tfie greatest men I ever knew 
 used to say that impulse was a good thing to obey instantly 
 if there was no doubt of its being a right one." 
 
 "And do you consider this proposed move of yours a 
 right one, Mr. Strong ?" asked Mr. Winter. 
 
 " I do," replied Phillip, with quiet emphasis. " I do 
 not regret making it, and I believe it is my duty to abide 
 by my original decision." 
 
 " Do you mean that you intend actually to move out 
 of this parsonage ?" asked one of the other members of 
 the committee. 
 
 "Yes." Phillip said it so quietly and yet so decidedly 
 that the committee was silent a moment. Then Mr Winter 
 said : 
 
 " Mr. Strong, this matter is likely to cause trouble in 
 the church, and we might as well understand it frankly. 
 -•v ...„=._c- uciicve mat as liie parsonage belongs to the 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 121 
 
 to Hve rr?H'"t *';'""* '°'" '''' "•"•^^«^' '^^ °"«ht 
 to move oLt." ""' "'" "°^ ""'"^^^'^^ ^°- <^-- 
 
 .-el: 'prt"bt„r ' "• ''^- ^^"^^^ ^" ^^""•^ ^"^ ^'^^ 
 
 S^a' ^''°"'^ ^"°* ^''^^ ^ ''O' «^Mly." Mr. Winter 
 colored and replied in a hesitating manner. 
 
 that I Srj!^l 7«ons yesterday morning. I do not know 
 that I can make them plainer. The truth is I canrrot go on 
 preaching to my people about living on a simpler basis 
 whUe I continue to live in surround^s that on he face 
 of them contradict my own convictions In other wo ds 
 I am Imng beyond my necessities here. I have lived 111 mv 
 he surrounded by the luxuries of civili.at o". If now [ 
 
 of t^ bitter stru.1. ''Tu'''"' ''"'" ^°"*^^* something 
 
 -t^'^=:r^:hif.^r::^— ^^^^ 
 
 expensiveTou o7h^; v'"""*^' '"' "^'"« '" * '«- 
 
 church work or reach 'Lr" T""' ^^'"^ ''"^'P >'°- 
 
 " I am LI ' P^°P'^ *"^ «^^« more souls ?" 
 
 proposed mov" resall i?h, • ^' " '"" "■ Will my 
 
 -"<-« in „e r„, pfri,!," 71" "",°" "'"■ '"' ">'■""' 
 
 objec. ,e,:t -.nTtZ'"! "..'"""^"^ '- "*. is 
 peoole." ~ "^" '"'^ P^" "^ Christian 
 
122 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 i *il 
 
 For a moment no one spoke. Then Mr. Winter said : 
 
 "About your proposal that this house be turned into a 
 
 refuge or home for homeless children, Mr. Strong. Do 
 
 you consider that idea practicable ? Is it business ? Is it 
 
 possible ?" 
 
 " I believe it is, very decidedly. The number of home- 
 less and vagrant children at present in Milton would as- 
 tonish you. This house could be. put into beautiful shape 
 as a detention house until homes could be found for the 
 children in Christian families." 
 
 " It would take a great deal of money to manage it." 
 
 "Yes," replied Phillip, with a sadness which had its 
 cause deep within hiraj "it would cost something. But 
 can the world be saved cheaply ? Does not every soul 
 saved cost an immense sum, if not of money at least of an 
 equivalent ? Is it possible for u.s to get at the heart of 
 the great social problem without feeling the need of using 
 all our powers to solve it rightly ?" 
 
 Mr. Winter shook his head. He did not understand 
 the minister. His action and his words were both foreign 
 tc the mill-owner's regular business habits of thought and 
 performance. 
 
 " What will you do, Mr. Strong, if the church refuses 
 lo listen to this proposed plan of yours ?" 
 
 " I suppose," answered Phillip, after a little pause, " the 
 church will not object to my living in another house at my 
 own charges ?" 
 
 "They have no right to compel you to live here." 
 Mr. Winter turned to the other members of the committee. 
 "I said so at our previous meeting. Gentlemen, am I 
 not right in that ?" 
 
 " It is not a question of our compelling Mr. Strong to 
 live here," said one of the others. " It is a question of the 
 church's expecting him to do so. It is the parsonage and 
 
 ! my opinion there 
 
 the chur^'h Imm* 
 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP- STRONG. 1^3 
 
 will be trouWe if Mr. Strong moves out. People will not 
 understand it." 
 
 " That is my feeling, too, Mr. Strong," said Mr. Win- 
 ter. " It would be better for you to modify or change, or, 
 better still, to abandon this plan. It will not be under- 
 stood, and will cause trouble." 
 
 " Suppose the church should rent the parsonage to 
 some party, then," suggested Phillip; " it'would then be 
 getting a revenue from the property. That, with the thou- 
 sand dollars on my salary, could be wisely and generously 
 used to relieve much suflfering in Milton this winter. The 
 church could easily rent the house." 
 
 That was true, as the parsonage stood on one of the 
 most desirable parts of B. Street, and would command 
 good rental. 
 
 " Then you persist in this plan of yours,""do you,. Mr. 
 Strong ?" asked the third member of the committee, who 
 had for the most part been silent. 
 
 "Yes, I consider that under the circumstances, local 
 and universal, it is my duty. Where I propose to go there 
 is a house which I can get for eight dollars a month. It is 
 near the tenement district, and not so far from the church 
 and this neighborhood that I need be isolated too much 
 from my church family." 
 
 Mr. Winter, looked serious and perplexed. The other 
 turstees looked dissatisfied. It was evident they regarded 
 the whole thing with disfavor. 
 
 Mr. Winter rose. abruptly. He could not avoid a feeling 
 of anger, in spite of his obligation to the mimsicr. He 
 also had a vivid recollection of his former interview with 
 the pastor in that study. And yet the mili-owner struggled 
 with vague resistance against a feeling that Philip was pro- 
 posing to do a thing that could result for himself in only 
 one way— in suffering. With all the rest went a cupnre=.»,-H 
 but conscious emotion of wonder that a man would of his 
 
124 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 own free will give up a luxurious home for the sake of 
 anybody. 
 
 "The matter of reduction of salary, Mr. Strong will 
 have to come before the church. The trustees canno vote 
 iTu'' Tn r°^°"'- ^ ^"^ ^•^^y '""'^h mistaken if the 
 
 Yo?.l' u""' ^'"'■'=' "•" "°* <^PP^« *»><= -auction 
 You can see how ,t would place u, in an unfavorable light " 
 
 "Itf^ u T^r^'' ^'- ^'"'"■" «**d Phillip, eager V. 
 If the church W.11 simply regard it as my own griat desir' ' 
 
 it:]:iiTr' '^ ^^'^'^ - -^ ^^^^ ^^-^rTz 
 
 work in Milton, I am very sure we need have no .ear of 
 
 bung put m a false light. The church does not propose 
 
 h.» reduction. The proposal comes from me. and in a 
 
 othltlt:;^'."' '-' '"" '^^^ --' *^"*« «>«^ore by 
 
 _"Thatmaybe. Still. I am positive that Ci.,.ry Church 
 W.II regard .t as unnecessary, and will oppose it^ 
 
 PhnNl'"!u"°* "".f^' ""^ difference, practically." replied 
 Ph hp. wuh a smile. " I can easily dispose of a thousand 
 dollars where .t is needed by others more than by me But 
 
 Lr /'t' '^'' *^* ^^"'■'=^ -°"'<J ^«ually pay out The 
 money to them, rather than myself" ^ ^ ^ °"t the 
 
 won^er-^irr "^u *^' '''^" *™'*"' '^^'^^^ »» Phillip in 
 par:orage ' ""' ^ ^^" ""^''^ °' ^--^" ^Hey left'the 
 
 It was'o°„e°o?fH"r' "^-''^'^ ^'"'■*='' ''^'^ ^ "«««"«• 
 « was one of the stormiest meetings ever held bv th. 
 
 pl': oTnea^ ''u T'"^ ^^^ ^^"^^ ^glk to the's r! 
 Crl r "^ '"' '*^^'''^ ^""''°"' ''"d defended the mJn- 
 n^^rs action up to a certain point. The result was a Z 
 dition of waiting and expectancy rather th=n a -T 
 condemnation of the proposed ac^ron p^^ ^^^^^^^^^^ 
 would be presenting the church in a false I 2 to 'f.; 
 't as entirely opposed, up to this date to Phm "^ I" 
 ••ng and ideas of Christian llvin. wA!° f'l^ "^ P^'^^'^'" 
 
 sir 
 
 ung 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 12$ 
 
 buttress of admiring and believing members in the church. 
 This stood, with Mr. Winter's influer.ce. as a breakwater 
 
 ZTl %u' ^"'' °^ °PP°*'''°" ^^«'""'"« 'o pour in 
 upon h.m. There was an element in Calvary Church con- 
 
 thTchn- r ' '"^'"' '"'^ ''' ^*^°"^ •" ''^ «^°^'"8 belief 
 iJh H ''*'°" '"^ '^""''^ ^"^"^ '" the world had 
 
 7.1 1".?'" "'''■'• *'"'^'' *°"'d ^"'t <=ither in the 
 death or the tfc of the Cflurch in Americ. Phillip's preach- 
 .ng had strengthened that feeling. His last Lve had 
 startled the thoughtful element, and it wished tH it for 
 
 rtutter."'" ^'"^ '''^P^"' °^ '^'"'^ that the minister be 
 requested to resign was finally overruled, and it was de 
 
 tits, *°;PPf ^hi« desertion of the parsonage, while 
 negadvl " °^ '''"' '''' ^"'^^ "P°« '" ^^e 
 
 But feelfng was roused to a high pitch. Many of the 
 members declared their intention of refusing to attend ser- 
 vices. Some declared they would not pay their pledges 
 
 Phni r^". t '•"'" "'^^°^'^^- '^°"^--' -•^^J •" ^-vor o 
 
 him b^re'cle;k."'°' °^ ''' '"^^*""« ^^' '--"^ -» 
 
 Meanwhile Phillip moved out of the parsonage into his 
 
 •new quarters. The daily paper, which had given a ens" 
 
 tional account of his sermon. laying most stress upon "s 
 
 Z r I ?''*^".»'?<1 « half devoted to Phillip, carrying 
 out of h,s determination to abandon the parsonage nd 
 get nearer the people in the tenements. The article was 
 
 feme v!r f" """" ^oj'demned by many, defended by 
 some. Very few seemed to understand his exact motive 
 The majority took it as an eccentric move, and exZ ed 
 regret m one form and another that a man of such mark d 
 
 " la ifand'^^'H^J''" '^""^ "^'"^'^ *° Possessed 
 balance and jjood judgment. Some called him., ..,„'u 
 
 xne people in the tenement district were too" much "ab- 
 
126 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 If' 
 
 ■■Jr' 
 
 
 surbed in their sufferings and selfishness to make any 
 demonstration. It remained to be seen whether they would 
 be any better touched by Phillip in his new home. 
 
 So matters stood when the first Sunday of a cew month 
 came, and Phillip again stood before his church with his 
 Christ message. It had been a wearing month to him. 
 Gradually there had been growing upon him a sense of 
 almost isolation in his pulpit woric He wondered if he 
 had interpreted Christ aright. He studied with renewed 
 earnestness the springs of action that moved the luaiorical 
 Jesus, and again and again put that resplendently calm, 
 majestic, suffering personality into his own pulpit in Mil- 
 ton, and then stood off, as it were, to watch what He would, 
 in all human probability, say. He reviewed all his own 
 sayings on those first Sundays, and tried to tax himself 
 with utmost severity for any denial of his Master ur any 
 false presentation of His spirit; and as he went over the 
 ground he was almost overwhelmed to think how little 
 had been really accomplished. This time he came before 
 the church with the experience of nearly three weeks hand- 
 to-hand work among the people for whose sake he had 
 moved out of the parsonage. As usual an immense con- 
 gregation thronged tlie church. . 
 
 " The question ' What is church work ? ' has come to 
 me lately in different forms," began Phillip. " I am aware 
 that my attitude on this question is not shared by many 
 of the members of this church and other churches. Nev- 
 ertheless, I «tand here to-day, as I have stood on these 
 Sundays, to declare to you what in deepest humility would 
 seem to me to be the attitude of Christ in the matter 
 before us. 
 
 " What is a church ? It is a body of disciples profes- 
 sing to acknowledge Christ as Master. What does He 
 want such a body to be ? Like Himself in spirit, in daily 
 life. What does He want such a body to do ? Whatever 
 will most effectively make God's kingdom c6me on earth, 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF ^UlLLlP STRONG. I.7 
 
 and His will be done as in heaven. What i. th. n, » 
 «ary work of this church in Milton ? It !,? ' "'"'■ 
 
 seek and save the lost It i,T V 1 " ""° «« o"t and 
 low the Master And •,« T «• "** ''" "°" «"^ f°'- 
 church to follow Ilfn^intriH"'"^ 
 
 this town and b^Cht "to i; TT *"^ »'"«"» «' 
 As I see Him He sSs Ll ''''° ^° '''^^ '*"°^ """• 
 the d.rection of su^^^ ^'^f^^^.^^r"^ P^'- in 
 v'ce and paganism, sayL He' " ^ '*"°''*"" «"'» 
 Ca'vary Church lies ' F -f' . . ''^*" ^'''^ *^°'-'^ o» 
 
 th.s church consist .„' b^av^ 'f " '"^ ^"' ^°^^ °^ 
 socials and pleasant .L. *^ . ""'"^ '"'*^*'"K« «"d 
 among its own membe' '; :!h "', ''""''^"' '^"^^-- 
 -'onsists in getting out of t 7'' """'^ °' ^^" ^^urch 
 
 has been so many yTJl °^" ''"'' ""'^ '" -'''^^^ it 
 most effective to theTe d of t^"^' ' n- '°'"«^ '" ''"^ ^^ 
 "P the hurt and be TLi f^' *°""^^''' *« b^d 
 
 understand ths?o be he tuTn^^'T " - <»o not " 
 then I believe we miss it IT"'"*' °^ °"'' '=*'"^'='' ^^^'^ 
 in Milton to-da7d^ s ^o, CO T"'"^- ^""^'^'^ ^°'-'< 
 your fathers did'be^ e Tou ^L^ 'tf •^'"'"^ ^"^^^ 
 a cleaner town, the purification of o. ''?'"* *° '"*^* 
 
 actual planning and accomI°H """icipal life, the 
 
 Physical distress, a thorough 7*"* °^ '"""^ *° «"«ve 
 of labor and capi a ^bfief ch!"'r''"*^ °' ^'^^ P^«>'>'<"" 
 town is whatever is most Tl^:. ''"'■'' '""^'^ '" '^^^ 
 this town that we a re Th t wf oL '"' '° ""'' *° 
 
 cip'es of Jesus Christ Thlt fs th " °""^'^" *° »'«• ^is- 
 t'me to the tenement dis Hct orn m' '"T" ' «^'^* ™°^«= 
 families that are well and "" *''^" *° *=alHng on 
 and privileges. Th' .^ th"rr""r °' ^""^^^ ^^^^^o^tJ 
 to do Christ's work in H?' ''°" ^ "" °« this church 
 that unhappy part of th" town"' "' ^'^^ '*"" *<> -- 
 
 b^V,»( rr . . °' n'mself, his exoeri«.n,.- 1,;. u-_^ 
 
 -- -^^ .uu.ca u out on the vast a„dienc7wh^ SSV 
 
128 THE CRUCPIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 ^' i 
 
 Ir i 
 
 . i 
 
 saving of his vitality. And that Sunday he went home at 
 night exhausted, with a feeling of weariness partly due to 
 his work during the week among the people. The calls 
 upon his time and strength had been incessant, and he did 
 not know when or where to stop. 
 
 It was three weeks after this sermon on church work 
 that Phillip was again surprised by his strange visitor of 
 a month before. He had been out making some visits in 
 company with his wife. When they came back to the house, 
 there sat the Brother Man on the door-step. 
 
 At the sight of him Phillip felt that same thrill of ex- 
 pectancy which had passed over him at his former appear- 
 ance. 
 
 The old man stood up and took off his ^ipt. He looked 
 very tired and sorrowful. But there breathed from his 
 entire bearing the element of a perfect peace. 
 
 "Brother Man," said Phillip, cheerily, "come in and 
 rest yourself." 
 
 " Can you keep me over night ?" 
 
 The question was put wistfully. Phillip was struck by 
 the difference between this most shrinking request and 
 the self-invitation of a month before. 
 
 " Yes, indeed! We have one spare room for you. You 
 are welcome! Come in." 
 
 So they went in, and after tea Phillip and the Brother 
 Man sat down together while Mrs. Strong was busy in the 
 kitchen. A part of this conversation was afterwards re- 
 lated by the minister to his wife; a part of it he afterwards 
 said was unreportable — the manner of tone, the inflection, 
 the gesture of his remarkable guest no man could repro- 
 duce. 
 
 "You have moved since I saw you last," said the visitor. 
 "Yes," replied Phillip. "You did not expect me to 
 act on your advice so soon ?" 
 
 " My advice ?" The question came in a hesitating tone. 
 " Did I advise you to move ? Ah, yet, I remember!" A 
 
 
 I 1 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. I29 
 
 light like supremest reason flashed over the man's face and 
 then died out. " Yes. yes, you are beginning to live on 
 your simpler basis. You are doing a, you preach. That 
 must feel good. 
 
 Brl?/'M "'1^ ^""u "^' " '* '^^^ ^"' «°°*>- ^° y°" think. 
 Brother Man. that th.s will help to solve the problem ?" 
 What problem ?' 
 
 n.nl!!''^' '^"^ •'■°'''*"' °^ *^' *=''"''^'' *"<> the peopls^win- 
 nmg them— saving them." F^s^wm 
 
 "Are youi church members moving out of their elegant 
 houses and coming down here to live ?" The old man 
 asked the question in utmost simplicity. 
 
 "No; I did not ask them to do so" 
 " You ought to." 
 
 literX'To ifr'.? ''''"• '° ^°" '^^''^^"•"y P*°P'« °««ht . 
 people V' Po^'^^sions and live among the 
 
 Phillip could not help asking the question, and all the 
 
 me he was conscious of an absurdity min^IeS ^th a 
 
 stnmge. unaccountable respect for his visitor, and hi: 
 
 " ChrUr" '"^T. '''* '^^^^ ****• *^* "'""^S Oi light. 
 
 Phillip sat profoundly silent. The words «nAlr»„ . 
 
 vtwl in a temptst, He dared not say anvthm. i~ 
 m™. The Brother Ma. loo-ed oZa.^ ""J^d aVC" 
 ^ mat have ,„„ been preachin, about since ,o" Z, 
 
 "A great many things." 
 
 What ar* •"»«- ^t a.1.^ .t.- — 
 
 on the first Sunlays?" "' """'^ '"' ""^^ P'»»<^h«d about 
 "Well" Phillip clasped his h.ndi over hii kne-.- "I 
 
 -? 
 
 4 
 
»30 THE CRUClFtXiON OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 have preached about the right and wrong uses of property, 
 the evil of the saloon, the Sunday as a day of rest and wor- 
 ship, the necessity of moving our church-bmldmg down 
 into this neighborhood, the need of living on a simpler 
 basis, and lastly, the true work of a church in these days. 
 " Has your church done what you have wished ?" 
 " No," replied Phillip, with a sigh, 
 " Will it do what you preach ought to be done ?" 
 "I do not know." 
 " Why don't you resign ?" 
 
 The question came with perfect simplicity, but it smote 
 Phillip almost like a blow. It was spoken with calmness 
 that hardly rose above a whisper, but it seemed to Phillip 
 almost like a shout. , The thought of giviiig up his work 
 simply because his church had not yet done all he wished, 
 or because some of his people did not like him. was the last 
 thing a man of his nature would do. He looked again at 
 the Brother Man and said : 
 
 " Would you resign if you were in my place ?" 
 " No." It was so. quietly spoken that Phillip almost 
 • doubted if his visitor had spoken. Then he said : " What 
 has been done with the parsonage ?" 
 
 " It is empty. The church is waiting to rent it to some 
 one who expects to move "to Milton soon." 
 "Are you sorry you came here ?" 
 " No, I am happy in my work." 
 " Do you have enough to eat and wear ?" 
 " Yes, indeed, Brother Man. The thousand dollars 
 which the church refused to take off my salary goes to help 
 where most needed; the rest is more than enough for us." 
 " Does your wife think so ?" The question from any 
 one else had been impertinent. From the Brother Man it 
 was not. 
 
 "Let us call her in and ask iiei,' icpllcJ rltiliip, vvith 
 a smile. 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. I3I 
 
 ' Sarah, the Brother Man wants to know if you have 
 enough to live on." 
 
 Sarah came in and sat down by Phillip. It was dusk 
 Ihe year was turning into the softer months of spring 
 Brother Man." she continued, while a tear rolled over her 
 and all the out-door world had been a benediction that 
 evenmg if the sorrow and poverty and sin of the tenement 
 district so near had not pervaded the very walls and atmos- 
 phere of the entire place. The minister's wife anlwe^ed 
 bravely, Yes, we have food and clothing and life's neces- 
 saries. But oh, Phillip, this life is wearing you out Yes 
 cheek, "the minister is giving his Hfe-blood to these peo- 
 ple.^ and they do not care. It is a vain sacrifice." She had 
 spoken as frankly as if the old man had been her father 
 fidence"^*' ^ something in him which called out such con- 
 Phillip soothed his wife, clasping her to him tenderly 
 ihere, barah, you are nervous and tired. I am a litt'e 
 discouraged, but strong and hearty for the work. Brother 
 Man, you must not think we regret your advice. We have 
 been blessed by following it." 
 
 t.,/"l?u" ^^i" remarkable guest stretched out his arms 
 through the gathering gloom in the room and seemed to 
 
 B^bT. T- J-T '" ^'^ '^'"'"^ ""' ^««'" <=-"ed for a 
 B^le, and offered a prayer of wondrous sweetness. Phillip 
 •showed him to his plainly furnished room. The old man 
 looked around and smiled. 
 
 "This is like my old home." he said-" a palace while 
 the poor die of hunger." ' 
 
 the^nlf "^ ''T.^ "' '^' ^'^^ ''"'''^' '^'"^ recollected that 
 the old man had once been wealthy, and sometimes in his 
 
 IZt n:nT'T ^"'•••°""^'"«* --th his once luxuriou, 
 nome. He lingered a moment, and ^h- B'-^^i-- \s • • 
 
 
'**~-^ -r-. -. *,.. , ^ 
 
 
 .A^'.,'^ 
 
 ,...*^-^»: 
 
 
 ■^!'t-vT--..S .^^ 
 
 132 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 " Good-nlght, Brother Man," cried Phillip as he went 
 
 out. 
 
 "Good-night, Christ's man," replied his guest. And 
 Phillip went to his rest that night, great questions throb- 
 bing in him and the demands of the Master more distinctly 
 brought to his attention than ever. 
 
 Again, as before when he rose in the morning, Phillip 
 found that his visitor was gone. His eccentric movements 
 accounted for his sudden disappearances, but Phillip was 
 disappointed. He wanted to see his guest again and ques- 
 tion him about his history. He promised himself he would 
 do sa next time. 
 
 The following Sunday Phillip preached one of those 
 sermons which come to a man once or twice lu a whole 
 ministry. It was the !ast Sunday of the month, and not a 
 special occasion. But there had surged into his thought 
 the meaning of the Christian life with such uncontrollable 
 power that his sermon reached hearts never before touched. 
 He remained at the close of the service to talk with several 
 young men, who seemed moved as never before. After 
 they had gone away Phillip went into his own room back 
 of the platform to get something he had left there, and to 
 his surprise found the church sexton kneelinR down by one 
 of the chairs. As the minister came in the man rose and 
 turned to him. 
 
 " Mr. Strong, I want to be a Christian. I want to join 
 the church and lead a different life." 
 
 Phillip clasped the man's hand while tears rolled over 
 his face. He stayed and talked with him and prayed with 
 him, and when he finally went home the minister was ccflJ- 
 vinced it was as strong and true a conversion as he had 
 ever seen. He at once related the story to his wife, who 
 had gone on home to get dinner. 
 
 wanted to be baptized and unite with the church at the next 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 133 
 
 communion, " Calvary Church never will allow him to 
 unite with us!" 
 
 "Why not ?" asked Phillip, i„ amarement. 
 Because he is a negro!" replied his wife, 
 ^hi I,p stood a moment in silence with his hat in his 
 band. lookmg at his wife as she spoke. 
 
134 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 " Well," said Phillip, slowly, as he seemed to grasp the 
 meaning of his wife's words, "to tell the truth, I never 
 thought of that!" He sat down and looked troubled. " Do 
 • you think, Sarah, that because he is a negro the church will 
 refuse to receive him to membership ? It wc ;d not be 
 Christian to refuse him.'^ 
 
 "There are other things that are Christian whicl^ the 
 Church of Christ on eOtth does not do, Phillip," replied 
 his wife, almost bitterly. " But whatever else Calvary 
 Church may do or not do, I am very certain it will never 
 consent to admit to membership a black man." 
 
 " But there are so few negroes in Milton that they have 
 no church. I cannot counsel him to unite with his own 
 people. Calvary Church must admit him!" Phillip spoke 
 with the quiet determination which always marked his con- 
 victions when they were settled. 
 
 " But suppose the committee refuses to report his name' 
 favorably to the church — what then ?" Mrs. Strong spoke 
 with a gleam of hope in her heart that Phillip would be 
 roused to such indignation that he would resign and leave 
 Milton. 
 
 Phillip did not reply at once. He was having an inward 
 struggle with his sensitiveness and his interpretation of his 
 Christ. At last he said : 
 
 "I don't know, Sarah I shall do what I think He 
 would. What I shall do afterwards, that will also depend 
 oh what Christ would do. I cannot decide it yet. I have 
 great faith in the Church on earth." 
 
 " And yet what has it .done for you so far, Phillip ? 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. I35 
 
 The business men still own and rent the saloons and gamb- 
 ling-houses. The money spent by the church is all out of 
 proportion to its wealth. Here you give half your salary 
 to build up the kingdom of God, and more than a dozen 
 men in Calvary who are worth fifty and a hundred thou- 
 sand dollars give less than a hundredth part of their in- 
 comes to Christian work in connection with the Church 
 It makes my blood boil. Phillip, to see how you are tljrow" 
 ,ing your life away in these miserable tenements, and wast- 
 r^r^^r °" ^'^"^^h that plainly does not want to 
 do^^as Christ would have it. And I don't believe it ever 
 
 full'v^'^' Th V '"'t °l n"'- ^"''''" "P"^^ Ph"«P. <=heer- 
 fully. I believe I shall win them yet. The only thing 
 
 ay in th^. ?' 7f '° ! ^"^ ^ ->"■"« ^^^^ He would 
 say m this age of the world ? There is one thing of which 
 
 would The mistakes I make are those which spring from 
 my failure to interpret His action right. And yef I do 
 
 to-day. He would do most of the things I have done • He 
 would preach most of the truths I have'procJLt Don' 
 you think so. Sarah ? " 
 
 "I don't know., Phillip. , Yes. I think in most things 
 you have made an honest attempt to interpret him " "^ 
 
 Christ"tel/r«^ Tu"'^^ '^' ^"'°"' Sarah-wouldn't 
 Christ teJl Calvary Church that it should admit him to its 
 
 membership ? Would He make any distinction of peTsons ' 
 
 tl be blT V ?'""^''"' ^'"^""^"^'^ ^°"-^»^<'' «"<« -nt^ 
 
 Christ ^r. ' T'*' ^•*'' ^'"^^'^ """^y ^^ '^"th, would 
 Christ as pastor refuse him admission ? " 
 
 " There is a great deal of race prejudice among the peo- 
 
 tL "n.P"'^ ^'^r'"^"^'-. Phillip, I feel sure it will 
 ••'•:: ..itsi a.cst Oj/pOsiiion." 
 
 "That is not the question with me. Would Christ tell 
 
136 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 Calvary Church that the man ought to be admitted ? 
 Tlut is the question. I believe He would," added Phillip, 
 with his sudden grasp of practical action. And Mrs. Strong 
 knew that settled it with her husband. 
 
 It was the custom in Calvary Church for the church 
 committee on new names for membership to meet at the 
 minister's house on the Monday evening preceding the 
 preparatory service. At that service all names presented 
 to the committee were formally acted upon by the church. 
 The committee's action was generally considered final, 
 and the voting by the chruch was in accordance with the 
 committee's report. 
 
 So when the committee came in that evening following 
 the Sunday that had witnessed the conversion of the sex- 
 ton, Phillip had ready & list of names, including those of 
 several young men. It was a very precious list to him. 
 It seemed almost for the first time since he came to Mil- 
 ton that the growing opposition to him was about^to be 
 checked, and finally submerged beneath a power of the 
 Holy Spirit, which it was Phillip's daily prayer might 
 come and do the work which he alone could not do. That 
 was one reason he had borne the feeling against himself 
 so calmly. 
 
 Phillip read the list over to the committee, saying some- 
 thing briefly about nearly all the applicants for member- 
 ship and expressing his joy that the young men especially 
 were coming into the church family. When he reached 
 the sexton's name he related, sin*ply, the scene with him 
 after the morning service." 
 
 There was an awkward pause then. The committee 
 was plainly astonished. Finally one said, "Brother 
 Strong, I'm afraid the church will object to feceiving the 
 sexton. What is his name ?" 
 " Henry Roland." 
 
 "Why. he has been sexton of Calvary Church for ten 
 years," said another, an older member of the committee, 
 
 % 
 
fT'^ 4,'^gtg"^-^^^ 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRO«G. I37 
 
 Deacon Stearns by name. "He has been an honest cap- 
 able man. I never heard any complaint of him. He has 
 al'vay. mmded his own business. However, I don't know 
 how the church will take it to consider him as an appli-- 
 cant for membership." 
 
 "Why. brethren, how can it take it in any except the 
 Christian way ? " said Phillip, eagerly. "Here is a man 
 who gives evidence of being born again. He cannot be 
 present to-night vheri the other applicants come in fater 
 owing to work he must do. but I can say for him that he 
 gave all evidence of a most sincere and thorough conver- 
 sion ; he wishes to be baptized ; he wants to unite with the 
 church. He is of more than average intelligence. He 
 •8 not a person to thrust himself into places where people 
 do not want h.m-a temperate, industrious, modest, quiet 
 work„,an. a Christian believer asking us to receive him 
 at the communion table of our Lord. There is uu church 
 of his own people here. On what posible pretext can the 
 church refuse to admit him ? " 
 
 "You do not know some of the members of Calvary 
 Church. Mr. Strong, if you ask such a question. There is 
 a very strong prejudice against the negro in many fami- 
 nes. This prejudice is specially strong just at this time 
 owing to several acts of depredation committed by the 
 negroey living down near the railroad tracks. I don't be- 
 lieve It would be wise to present this name just now" 
 Deacon Stearns appeared to speak for the committee, all 
 of whom murmured assent in one former another. 
 
 "And yet," said Phillip, roused to a sudden heat of in- 
 dignation "and yet what is Calvary Church doing to help 
 to make those men down by the railroad tracks any better? 
 Are we concerned about them at all except when our coal 
 or wood or clothing is stolen, or someone is.heW up down 
 there ? And when one of them knocks at the door of the 
 
 fit. ««^j n"'j ''"''7^ r""' " '" "" *^"^*= simply because 
 rft* f pod God ma4e if » different color from ours ?" 
 
pv 
 
 « 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 ft 
 
 ^ 
 
 4 
 
 M 
 
 m 
 
 138 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 s 
 
 Phillip stopped and then finished by saying very quietly, 
 " Brethren, do you think Christ would receive this man 
 
 into his Church ?" 
 
 There was no reply for a moment. Then Deacon 
 Stearns answered, "Brother Strong, we have to deal 
 with humanity as it is. You cannot make people all over. 
 This prejudice exists and sometimes we may have to 
 respect it in order to avoid greater trouble. I know 
 families in the church who will certainly withdraw if the 
 •exton is voted in as a member. And still," said the old 
 deacon, with a sigh, " I believe Christ would receive him 
 into His Church." ^ 
 
 Before much more could be said, the different applicants 
 came, and as the custom was, after a brief talk with them 
 about their purpose in uniting and their discipleship, they 
 withdrew and the committee formally acted on the names 
 for presentation to the church. The name of Henry 
 Roland, the sexton, was finally reported unfavorably, three 
 of the committee voting against it, Deacon Stearns at last 
 voting with the minister to present the sexton's name with 
 
 the others. 
 
 " Now, brethren," said Phillip, with a sad smile, as they 
 rose to go, " you know I have always been very frank in 
 all our relations together. And I am going to present the 
 sexton's name to the church Thursday night and let the 
 church vote on it in spitr of the action here to-night. You 
 know we have only recommending, power. The church 
 is the final authority. And it may accept Or reject any 
 names we present. I cannct rest satisfied until I know 
 the verdict of the church in the matter." 
 
 " Brother Strong," said one of the committee, who had 
 been opposed to the sexton, "you are right as to the ex- 
 tent of our authority. But there is no question in my 
 mind as to the outcome of the matter. It is a question 
 of expediency, i tlo not nave any iccung sgsuzst use 
 sexton. But I think it w.ould be very unwise to receive 
 
s 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 139 
 
 him into membership, and I do not believe the church 
 mil receive him. If you present the name, you do so on 
 your own responsibility." 
 
 " With mine," said Deacon Stearns. He was the last 
 to shake hands with the minister, and his warm, strong 
 clasp gave Phillip a sense of fellowship that thrilled him 
 with a feehng of courage and companionship very much 
 needed. He at once went up to his study after the com- 
 mittee was gone. Mrs. Strong, coming up to see him fater, 
 found h.m as she often did now, on his knees in prayer. 
 Ah. thou follower of Jesus in this century, what but thy 
 prayers shall strengthen thy soul i„ the strange days to 
 come ? o JO iv 
 
 Thursday evening was stormy. A heavy rain had set 
 m before dark and a high wind blew great sheets of water 
 through the streets and rattled loose boards and shingles 
 about the tenements. Phillip would not let his wife go ouf 
 .t was too stormy. So he went his way alone, somewhai 
 sorrowful at heart as he contemplated the prospect of a 
 small attendance on what he had planned should be an 
 important occasion. 
 
 However, some of the best members of the church were 
 
 In^J Tl °"" *''"* """■" •" '^'^^'''^y *'th Phillip 
 and h s n^ethods were in the majority of those present, and 
 that led to an unexpected result when the names of the 
 applicants for membership came before the church for 
 
 Phillip read the list approved by the committee, and 
 then very simply but powerfully told the sexton's story and 
 bersht """""" '° recommend him for^em- 
 
 "Now, I do not see how we can shut this disciple of 
 Jesus.o«t of his Church." concluded Phillip. "And I wish 
 
 tianb;He;errrdS::ort;;iz^^ 
 
140 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 those who believe that there is to be no distinction of souls 
 hereafter that shall separate them by prejudice, I hope 
 you will vote to receive this brother in Christ to our mem- 
 
 '"''The'voting on new members was done by ballot. When 
 the ballots were all In and counted it was anno««'^ J t^*' 
 IJ^ whose names were presented were unammously elec ed 
 except the sexton. There were twelve votes against hm. 
 bu tweU-six for him. and Phillip declared that, according 
 to the constitution of the church he was duly <JecUd ^^ 
 meeting then went on in the usual manner characterst c 
 of preparatory service, the sexton had been presen m 
 the back part of the room, and at the close of the meet ng 
 Ir all the rest had gone, he and Phillip had a long ta k 
 with each other. When Phillip reached ^ome he and Sarah 
 had another long talk on the same subject What that w« 
 we cannot tell until we come to record the events of the 
 Communion Sunday, a day that stood out .n Ph. hp s mem^ 
 ory like one of the bleedmg palms of the Master, pierced 
 with sorrow but eloquent with sacrifice. 
 
 The day was beautiful, and the church as usual crowded 
 to the doors. There was a feeling of hardly -ncealed ex- 
 citement on the part of Calvary Church, /^e action of 
 Thursday night had been sharply critics J. Very many 
 thought Phillip h . gone beyond his right ,n bringing such 
 an important subject before so small a m. .ting of the mem- 
 bers; and the prospect of the approaching baptism and 
 communion of the sexton had drawn in a crowd of people 
 who ordinarily stayed away from that service. 
 
 Phillip generally had no preaching on Communion 
 Sunday. This morning he remained on the platform after 
 the opening exercises, and in a stillness which was almost 
 painful in its intensity, he began to speak in a low but clear 
 
 and impressive voice. . _. . _ _i. _.- 
 
 "Fellow-disciples o! the church ot cn»ris>t o» ca.tu. ..c 
 
 meet to celebrate the memory of ^hat greatest of all beings. 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. I41 
 who on the eve of His own greatest agony prayed that Hi, 
 
 ro«ndin« Hi"" °^ '"«"-« °' ^P-^h or social t?- 
 brnni^i **"'^" ^" '*'«* «'» disciples might all 
 
 be one-one m their aims, in their purposes, thd svm 
 pathy their faith, their hope, their love "^ 
 
 ^h.Vh ?*"• '''"' ''"PPcned in this church very recently 
 whu:h makes .t necessary for me to say these words The 
 
 tt hefrof""' 'r '''' ^^^^ '^'' ^""''^^ -<« »°-hed 
 and hereto »'rT T,""^ '"'^"' ^''^ ^^^'^ ''''='"-Jv<^'' t^*" 
 o^e o !„oth '/""' '^''"^'- ^'"*>"« '"^^ "-" was 
 
 black man H- T' ''""" ^'^ Anglo-Saxon. He was a 
 black man H.s heart wa. melted by the same love, his 
 mmd . llummated by the same truth, he desired to make 
 
 dTciJ e of the.' "; M "* "'*' ^'" ^''"^'^^ ^^ « '•""'ble 
 
 ^ay, and that com!::it::r o^'of :c;"f '"' f °':; 
 
 to nrA— «* u- ' tnrte to two, refused 
 
 hip On mv ""' ---"-endations for member- 
 
 vice'' Th^L? "^l 'r^''"'^^^'^'y »t the preparatory ser- 
 d cipl'" name "rf * "''' *'^ '^''"^^'^ ^° ^^^ ^P- this 
 P elt By a J "; T ' "^"'^'" '^"*"-»"' «^ ^^e churci. 
 ship was rece ved ^ *° '' '''' '''^''''"' ^- -<=-ber- 
 
 "But afr t,t. '°'. "^ '° *''* '"'" °^ *his church 
 
 that he";:; Jtrr -n : s r r t :" -^^ 
 
 that some objected to hisZlCllo U ' 
 
 fceh-ng for him to have wHTd ! ]. . n ""'' " ""*"''"' 
 ter Since th^„ T u . '^"«^ **'^ °v«r the mat- 
 
 twof ml 3 hadT rr' '''* " ^ ^"^^^ ^^''^--^^ 
 
 there is a p«ty thl hrnui'T""^ '"^"""^' 
 -yr:ayt-7^— -^-^dee^^^ 
 

 142 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 Church to take the action 1 now propose. We are met here 
 Z morning in full membership. . H- .s a sou^u t l.d 
 out of the darkness by the Spirit of truth. He is one 
 known to many of' you as an honest, worthy man or many 
 yearTfaithful in the discharge of his duties in this hous. 
 There is no Christian reason why he should be denied 
 fellowship around this table. I wish, therefore, to ask the 
 .nembers of the church to vote again on the acceptance o 
 rejection of Henry Roland, disciple of Jesus, who has 
 asked for admission to this body of Christ ;nH.sname^ 
 Will all those in favor of thus receiving our broU^er nto 
 the great family of faith, signify it by raising the right 
 
 '"'"por a moment not a person in the church stirred. Every 
 one seemed smitten into astonished inaction by the sudden 
 proposal of the minister. Then hands began to go up^ 
 Phillip counted them, his heart beating with angmsh as he 
 foresaw the coming result. He waited a "O'^f '..;* "^"^f^ 
 to many like several minutes, and then said. AU those 
 opposed to the admission of the applicant signify it by the 
 
 ssitnc sisrn. 
 
 Again there was the same significant. relucUnt pause. 
 Then hands went up in numbers that almost doubled those 
 who had voted in favor of admission. From the gallery 
 on the sides, where several of Phillip's workingmen friends 
 sat. a hiss arose. It was slight, but heard by the entire 
 congregation. Phillip glanced up there and it instantly 
 
 *^**Without another word he stepped down from the plat- 
 form and began to read the list of those who had been 
 received into church membership. He had reached the^nd 
 of it when the person whose name was called last rose 
 from his seat near the front, where all the ncwly-received 
 members usually sat. together, and turning partly around 
 
 _, -^-- ^•__ __j -*:ii „AArf»» Phniio. 
 
 so as io ittCc ine ccisa. ^.gaijun ^"'-^ ~^'" 
 
 he said : 
 
 *«?#B»*%itin W> 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. I43 
 
 '• Mr Strong, I do not fed.' alter what has taken place 
 here this morning that I could unite with this church. 
 This man who has been excluded from church membership 
 IS the son of a woman born into slavery on the estate of 
 one of my relatives. That slave woman once nursed her 
 master through a terrible illness and saved his life. This 
 • man, her son, was then a little child. But in the strange 
 changes that have gone on since the war, the son of the 
 old master has been reduced to poverty and obliged to 
 work for a l.vmg. He is now in this town. He is this 
 
 7Z fu^ M'"f "^*'" * '*^'"« ^ '° *he tenement district. 
 And this black man has for several weeks out of his small 
 
 a 7rl^ »"" through his illness with all the devotion of 
 knowing them as I do, and believing that he is as worthy 
 
 onllhTr! VI'' "/"^ ^^'*''" ''«^' ' <=-»"- 
 therefor/? •. *'*\'"^ °^" Purpose to unite here. 
 
 Philup replied in a choking voice. "You can" The 
 man sat down. It was not the place for any dLonstratbn 
 but agam from th* gallery came a slight but disU^Snote 
 
 wtt.H f *». . °'"*"* *^*^ °"« held his breath and 
 
 from her seat, ^r^:^::^^^^::^:^:^ T' 
 moment there was a hesitation ab6ut PhViL * 
 
 "nusua, with him that some Z^^'L^^l^ZTT '"^ 
 he church. But he quickly calSd o^W !^n V** '"'' 
 
 ht aiimfy took chkrS 7t ";*!?"***: ^""nfnion aervice 
 r °» «n«r«e of It as If nothing out of the way 
 
 
,44 THE CRUCIFIXION or PHII.UP STROSG. 
 
 J H. did not even allude to the mornrng's 
 U.d occnrred He d d »^ ' ,^^ „ „(,;,, 
 
 "Jt"'. PhSto S erutal conW find no h»l. with hi. 
 'Xot!^- Hrjcondnct'o. the service on that ntent- 
 
 °'th^tl^^:tr..<.u;^^^^^^^^^ - . 
 
 ,.Uen par. either .or - «'-'„ r:,! Thttrguments and 
 „„ch said about >he matter^ ^gJJ^u no' remove the 
 excuses and con,«.uU °" f J^7j:.,„.,,„. ,He action 
 
 ""'Ifhf had been in the habit of doing since he moved 
 into he^erghborhood of the tenements. P»»'"'P ^f^ - 
 in the afternoon to visit the sick and troubled. The shut 
 t^g down of the mills had resulted in an immense amount 
 o Offering and trouble. A, spring came on some^ew o 
 the mills had opened, and men had found ^^)^^^^^^^^ 
 a reduction of wages. The entire history of the enforced 
 idleness of thousands of men in MiUon dur ng that even - 
 ful winter would make a large volume of ^^'^ '"«" "^^ 
 tive Phillip's story but touches on this other. He had 
 grown rapidly familiar with the different phases of Ufe 
 whkh loafed and idled and drank itself away during that 
 period of inaction. Hundreds of men had dnfted away o 
 other places in search of work. Almost as many more had 
 taken to the road to swell the ever-mcreasmg number of 
 profLional tramps, and in time to develop mto petty 
 thieves and criminals. But those who remained had a 
 desperate struggle with poverty, fhillip few ^l^! S 
 as he went among the people a..G ss™ «:- ^z..y ^ - x- 
 'fsim^M, tbP titter pstranpfement of symjmthy *n4 com- 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STKONG. 145 
 
 him rhatTh^"/""''' ^''^^"°°" - P-^'<=»'- it seemed o 
 mm that the depression and discouraaement nt fi,- ♦ 
 
 to the h. ol or ;""""'?" ^^^^'"- After going 
 
 thought o. cue perso^ Tho hLT ' '^'"^'^ "'''^'''"' >»« 
 in the morning InviLlher" '"'"*'°"^' '^ ^''^ "«" 
 critical condition hILh !!?'"* *^''*"*=^ ^"^^ '" '^ 
 
 a httle enquiry he soo^ f IT"'^ ^'^ "*''*'-"^' «"<» ^^^^ 
 ments newtohim ' '""^^" '" ^ ^^"^ °^ *he tene- 
 
 thetc^;'"?:'^: o;::e3'■?^r ^*^^^^ ^-^ ^-^^^^ ** 
 phiihp^withUd 3u:p:rs:' '^ ''^ ^^^*°"- -«« «-*«<« 
 
 The minister smiled sadly 
 
 ..r'hf'iTMXJa'r.'i:';,'"'! ^°" « »-'»* ^o- Mas- 
 tfcis mom>,,' *"""■ " "« •«"» ^Hh» church 
 
 pointed ta.„':":a„'r.i"rr°.'s "i-" .^'•= '«•- 
 

 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG, 
 out the bread wd wine. »lt them on the small table and 
 
 ^'^.Dlscipi?of Jesus, would you like to P«tajce of the 
 blessed communion once more before you see the Kmg m 
 
 "" Tbi^TelL of satisfaction in the man's eyes told Phillip 
 enough. The sexton said in a low voice. " He belonged^o 
 the Southern Episcopal Church m Vtrgiraa Somah^ng 
 in the wistful look of the sexton gave Philhp an mspira- 
 ijon for what followed. ^ ^^ „,» u « 
 
 " Brother," he said, turning to the sexton, what is t« 
 hinder your baptism and partaking of the comrnumon ? 
 Yes. this is Christ's CJhurch wherever His true disciples 
 
 Then the sexton brought a basin of water; and as he 
 'kneeled down by the oide of the bed. Phillip baptized hm, 
 with the words. " I baptize thee. Henry, my brother, dis- 
 ciple of Jesus, into the name of the Father.and of the Son 
 iina of the Holy Ghost! Amen." . 
 
 "Amen.", murmured the man on the bed. 
 
 Then Phillip, standing as he was, bowed his . head 
 saying, " Blessed Lord Jesus, accept these children of 
 Thine, bless this new disciple, and unite our hearts in love 
 for Tl-jcfc and Thy kingdom as we .'emember Thee now in 
 
 service." „...,, 
 
 He took the bread and said: " ' Take, eat This is My 
 body, broken for you.' In the name of the Master who 
 said these words, eat, remembering His love for us." 
 
 The dying man could not lift his hand to take the breaa 
 from the plate. Phillip gently placed a crumb between his 
 Zips, and then taking up the cup, he said : " In the name 
 of the Lord Jesus, this cup is the new testament in His 
 blood shed for all mankird for the remission of sins." 
 He carried the cup io the lips of the man and then gave 
 to tht sexton. The smile on the dying man's face died 
 
 ouu i ne gi aj^ ^ 
 
 Mm 
 
THE CKUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 147 
 the room from the setting sun of death's approaching twi- 
 
 And ,0 the?!,,^^; H./ T" """' " " '" ''"•'fiction, 
 spirit leaptd oat of i,. ^i! . " °" """'■ ""^ *« 
 
 able bod,. °° *• '"" "•' ">« M. perfsh- 
 
 master. No division of ""'^"*"<=« of the son of his old 
 
 prejudice here Co:.ef l" tr* mV'''" ^"' "''^^'^ 
 come in to do th T^ ,.}' J ""«''^°" ^'f the dead 
 soul of this discTole T, "' '° '^' ^^^*- For .ae 
 
 hunger noVoJ titL^^alrr^^ ^"'^ '^ ^''^" 
 
 «gain smite it; f^r it shall if" •f'^"''.''"' °^ ^'^'^ «ver 
 Lamb of God who Iv. h- u r^'' '" *•'" ''^ht of that 
 and the life evet^ting ''" '^ '''' '•*'"""°" of sins 
 
 not^i:i;r::;sr:::lrr^r--r ^-^^ 
 
 poor creature in the clutch oTieLstJeT^ ""'. "''' ^ 
 familiar with the enemy's face ZM^V ^' *"'' ''"■ '"^^ 
 particular sr ne had am J .* tenements. But this 
 
 ferent from any he LTt''^ "f '''* *" ""P'-^^'O" dif- 
 
 - at lihertyTo H h:LtrTh «rL H^" ^^ ''^ 
 '"fir service he found him»Z , ^ *'^^°'"* *he even. 
 
 made him li. Hn»„ I/.."rf*'! '* « h« can.. J„. sh« 
 tervice. ^ "' " ■""**''° """ *o ^ive up his evening 
 
 ,•* 
 
 .i< 
 
 „fc-if1 
 
 ■--r€. 
 
i- 
 
 148 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 "No no Sarah! I can't do that! I am prepared; I 
 n.ust preach, I'll get a nap and xhen 111 feel better." he 
 
 ""'Mrs. Strong .hook her head, but Phillip --« f "^ 
 mined He slept a little, ate a little lunch, and when the 
 Ume of service came he went up to the church again. As 
 hUhrbirras. iust before the hour of beginning he wen 
 into the little room at the side of ^'e platform to pray oy 
 hims H When he came out and began the service no one 
 Sd havYtold from his manner that he w.. suffering 
 ohysicall Even Mrs. Strong, who watched him an 
 xioull felt relieved tc, see how quiet and composed he 
 
 *' He had commenced his sermon and had been preach- 
 ing with great eloquenbe for ten minutes, when he fel a 
 stran" dizziness and pain in his side that made h.m catch 
 ^bLth and clutch the side of the pulpit to keep f om 
 falling. It oassed away and he went on. It was only a 
 sght hesitation and no one remarked anythmg out oUhe 
 way For five minutes he spoke with increasing power 
 Tnl feeling. The church was filled. It -- -r^J^;^; 
 Suddenly, without any warning, he threw up his a m. ut 
 tered a cry of half-suppressed agony, and th^n fell over 
 backward. A thrill of excitement ran through the audi- 
 'rce. For a moment n. one moved; then everyone r^^ 
 The men in the front pews rushed up to the platform^ Mrs^ 
 Strong was already there. Phillip's ^-d was raised^ H 
 old friend the surgeon was in the crowd and he at once 
 Lamined him. He was not dead, and the doctor at once 
 directed the proper steps for his removal from the churck 
 As he was being carried out into the a.r he revived and 
 
 was able to speak. , , 
 
 "Take me home." he whispered to his wife who hung 
 over him in a terror as great as her love for him at that 
 moment. A carriage was csiiea ar.u :sc ^=ir — - - 
 The doctor remained until Phillip was fully conscious. 
 
tue cROcimioN og ratLUP stRONo. 149 
 
 „b JaZ","'^ ""^ ""'' ' "" "" «"•' ""d I fainted, 
 ell, doctor ? F,m time I e,ar did ,„ch . thing i„ m, i7(° 
 
 - .0 ..in. u S; L-r^i-Hrsir^— 
 •o.:Si„:"'Lr;rci^%rc"'^""^'-""- 
 
 much betler ia Ih. morning "^ "'°'™ '" 
 
 »a».ble(oreD„rtth.rhnr ""« ""Wister Mrs. S.ro„» 
 
 o'oioc. whe"rx,„ c, ,rp«'"- ^.'r *-" 
 
 lying on the loung*: "'■' "■*' '" '"» *'"<'? 
 
 from^hirX'chr' l"^ IZ'Tr. °"' °' '"- »" 
 
 down and o^ncdrt;":,;;'" "" ""'■ «« "■" ""<> " 
 
 At that moment Mrs. Stronjr was r^li^^ a 
 
 h^r fi,-. i-ii„ . . . . *^^ Without a word be han'*-'' 
 
 w.ici.dh^r.r.rrrT'if ■ '°'' ""- "» "■" '""i- 
 
' ICO THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The letter which PhUUp had received and which hU 
 wife now read was as follows : 
 
 Rev. Phillip Strong, 
 
 Pastor Cahory Church, Mttton: 
 Dear Sir and Brother.-The Seminary* at Fairview 
 has long, been contemplating the-addUion to >*» Profess^r- 
 ships of a chair of Sociology and Human ^^'^^^J^^ 
 lac? of funds and the absolute necessity of jfi«=>-^^^ 
 dowment for such a chair have made .t ^^^^^^^'^^^_ 
 (or the trustees to make any definite move m his direc 
 In. J. recent legacy, of which you have do-J^l"' ^^*^; 
 has mtde the founding of this new professorship possible^ 
 And now the trustees, by unanimous vote have elected you 
 as the man best fitted to fill this chair of Sociology We 
 have heard of your work in Milton and now of it per- 
 sonally We are assured you are thb man for the p^ace 
 We therefL tender you most heartily the position of Pro^ 
 Tsor of Sociology at Fairview Seminary ^^^^^ 
 twenty-five hundred dollars a year and a preuminary year s 
 absence either abroard or in this country before you begin 
 actual labors with the Seminary. 
 
 With this formal call on the part of Ae trustees, goes 
 the most earnest desire on the part of all the professors 
 of the Seminary who remember you m your marked under- 
 graduate sue ss as a student here. You wil meet w h 
 the most lovi. g welcome, and the Seminary will be greatly 
 strengthened by your presence in this new department. 
 We are, in bchaif of the acmuiary, 
 
 Very wdially yours, Th« T»ti8TEB3. 
 
* \ 
 
 ^ THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. I51 
 
 his wife '°"°*''* ^^^"^ "*'""' ^^™'"" '° ^°^ ^*''"'P «"*» 
 SarIh*aidT' * '"°'"'"* °* astonished silence, and then 
 den'cer*"' ^'''"'^' *'''*'' *^** ^ "" *^* '^"^^ ^^ ^^^vi- 
 
 Doilf ?H^°" ''" '' *^' ^"«*' °^ Providence because it 
 
 smne bI^T r *'"^ *° «° '" ''^''•=*' Phillip, with a 
 smile. But h.s face grew instantly sober. He was evi 
 dently very much excited by the call to FairvTew It had 
 
 ZUXT ^'^^ '' -- - ' -"^^^^- - ^--v -^ 
 
 his"J'%™"?'" "**"* ^'' *"^' *" «he smoothed back 
 
 y"« h^vVZe aH thaf ' "' " ^^^^ ^'«^" ^° ^ *"- 
 this cLl c«r "^°°* "" *^° '^"^ •« Milton, and 
 
 this cal comes just m time. You are worn out The 
 
 havearystd'a'S^^:::^! ^^'•r-- -r^ «- you 
 Philhp jsajd nothing for a whil#. ku >.• j 
 
 live^thif 3 Trr''''- "^''•"•■P strong, you have 
 
 Calvary Claret: ets'Td" WhT' .^I' ^^"^ ^^°"^ '" 
 monsdone? It il ,n f • ^^^^ 8°°<J have all your ser- 
 
 defeat a^d mis r; f r ^orrddl^'r.-*'^ ""' -'" "e 
 this new work will LlpL Ik '" ''''' '"e fact that 
 •abor, and that ^me t^'^Chn'st"' "' "^^^ ^'•"''^'*" 
 you don't-and I don't^e^ Phi ho"'" "'" *^'^ '* '' 
 think of such a thing as «fl- '! /k^ ''°" '"" ^^^'^'^ly 
 
 "It certiiJnW J "/*™«"K this opportunity." 
 Pu.„." "f?'!"^ « * »P'«ndid opportunity." nL^^r- 
 
 i^; S: placer °"'''' ""^ *'*^ '**'P«'«'* »° P'tch oi me 
 
 
 -» 
 
152 THE CRUCIFIXION OP PHtLLll' STRONG. 
 
 "That's easy enough. Everyone knows that you could 
 ail that chair better than almost any other man m the 
 
 """Do''you mean by ' everyone ' a little woman named 
 Sarah ?" asked Phillip, with a brief return of h.s teasmg 
 
 *''^'' No sir I mean all the proiessors and people in Fair 
 view an/^il the thinking people of Milton and everyone 
 who knows you, Phillip. Everyone knows that whatever 
 else you lack, it isn't brams." . ", t .«m 
 
 "I'd like ;o borrow some just now. though, for I seem 
 to have lost most of mine. Lend me yours, wont you. 
 X Sarah until I settle this question of the call f 
 
 "' No- st if you can't settle a plain question hke th.s 
 with au'you; own brains, you couldn't do any better wUh 
 the addition of the little I have." 
 
 "Then you really think, do you, Sarah, that I ough to 
 accep?thVas the kading of the Spirit of God, and follow 
 
 • ^^^S^:^piiedwtth almost t.aHulea.e.n.^^^ 
 
 "Phillip it seems to me '=ke the leadmg of His hand. 
 Surely you have shown your willingness and your courage 
 LTyour self-sacrifice bfyour work here. But your me^ 
 hods are distasteful, and your preaching has so far roused 
 only antagonism. Oh, I dread the thought o hts hfe for 
 vou another day. It looks to me like a suicdal pohcy, 
 wTh nothing to show for it when you have gone through 
 
 '*'"philHp spread the letter out on the couch and his face 
 ferew more and more thoughtful as he gazed mto the face 
 tf his wife, and his mind went over the S^o"«f ^^^^ 
 church experience. If only, he was perhaps thmkmg if 
 only the good God had not given him so sensitive and 
 fine-tempered a. spirit of conscientiousness. He almos en- 
 vied men ot coarse, blunt iceiings, ui t-irr:..- 
 duty and service. 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. ,53 
 would be free from th. ■ ^^^ professorship 
 
 pans, .„, .IIl"J;^'■^:r'a"z„,r .nr*"' - 
 
 as I am here-who knows ?" ^ Seminary 
 
 the'sa?e^imT:he:a:1''' T'^'"^' '^^^'^^ ^°^^""^^^ «» 
 letter and Tailed Phlin! "''"'■ ^""^ ^'^"^^^ "P the 
 granted him iyt aWad in c'°\*° *'' ^^^"^* ^^-'^ 
 
 ont Philip, yourdtl^'o"ore::ntrr- " ^'^"' 
 now. '• '"iciKn travel can come true 
 
 ^''"J^rZl'-i^^' '::"'' T »' "■' --Oow over .h. 
 
 a lifclimel" '"sonable 1 This „ ,he opportunity of 
 
 "Th.t'5 true," replied Phillip, 
 
 o. succe.r;„ i:r„ hTLT .m/"" -'v™^p=« 
 
 kind you like Yo„ Jn I ,' . "'" "°''''' '■' "^ 
 
 on '4orta;reJer„ ,'■;;;, Xrcerr-' " ""' 
 
 :::Zi:',o::s„es""j' ''?■ ^'--"«- 
 
 '. n-ns. u'Z t^etmS GoViri^his"!." '""■""• 
 ■>"> any seeking „n your part » ' '""" "'""■ 
 
 prid7h:-evetlhihr^r' ""H "' """ '™=- »' 
 -.he „as ahsoluttlree'lrse";" fo;; ^^i"?"';?- 
 
 a.. *e woH.-n;-rp^,;;- --;ea.« -""j 
 
 %-i 
 
1 ' 
 
 ^H 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 - ■ 
 
 ■■ 
 
 ■tW> 
 
 ffii 
 
 
 SI 
 
 S^r»*«- 
 
 r54 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 .ettter from her hand, read it over careiuUy. and again 
 laid it down on the couch Then h« »-«» / ^.^^ ^ou 
 " <;arfth I must pray over it. 1 neea a m««! 
 
 S„on« ..n. ^-»;''-i ''^;„'^: ; ,;' 's„ '««„« in hi. 
 most persuaded that fmmp woum , „« uj, m nd was 
 
 tone seemed to imply that the struggle of his m 
 
 "• m 'caltet at the door were three men who had been 
 to s'eeVhiUrs:veral times to talW with him about t.e.m 
 
 troubles and the labor conflict m 8^""*^ . T.^^J/^^^Ji- 
 to see Phillip. Mrs. Strong was anxious about the condi 
 t^orof PhilHp's health. She asked the men to come m. 
 
 and went upstairs again. „ . 
 
 « Can you see them ? Are you strong enough ? she 
 
 "^^Yes. tell them to come up. I am comforUble now." 
 PhiUip was resting easily, and after a careful look at 
 him. Mrs. Strong went downstairs. 
 
 To her surprise two of the men had gone. The one 
 who rer^ained'explained that he thought th- pe-ns 
 would excite or tire the minister more than one. that he 
 had stayed and would not trouble Philhp long. But the 
 buLe^on which he came was of such an ."nponant^- 
 ture that he felt obliged to see the mmister .f he could do 
 so without danger to him. . 
 
 So the man went up and Phillip greeted ^.m w,th his 
 usual heartiness, excusing himself for not r^mg. The man 
 took a chair, moved up near the couch, and sat down. He 
 seemed a good deal excited, but in a suppressed and cau- 
 
 '""' l"?me to see you. Mr. Strong, to tell you about a 
 thing you ought to know. There is danger of your life 
 
 here." , 
 
 " Where ? " asked Phillip, calmly. 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 155 
 
 " Here, In this neighborhood." 
 
 "Well ?" PhiiJip waited for more explana«o»„ 
 
 but r »K J"*"' '° *'" ^°"^ ^•^*' ^o^ '«" of scaring her 
 but I thought you ought to know, Mr Stroncr nfH 
 
 you could take .teps to protect yo,:.Hf or gTaw;;'' ''" 
 the .?n ;:• sld ""' '"' '^^^^ *^^ ^"'"'P' <»-«y. " 
 
 plan to waylay and rob and injure vou ,!r La > ■ 
 
 incy seemed to know about vour h^KJ* «r • 
 
 through the allevo n„^ * °^ «°'"8 a^und 
 
 to deal foui bv von fircf I ?^ ^ *"^ *'""'y "cant 
 
 put you on your gufrd 'xhe "' ''"' '"""«'' ^^^^ »'' 
 
 Mr. Strong you hav. K '""""'" "* *'°^" <>" -^o". 
 
 and your lecture in lh»lM '° °"*'''°''" ^««'"»* »hem; 
 1 tell you Thev hat ' ^""^ "^"^ '"^^^ *'^*"' ™ad. 
 
 ,';''"»»«"?"Millipa»k.<l. 
 
 They mean more than frioUt^^ »#* « ' 
 
 mean business." ^ ^''an fnghten, Mr. Strong. They 
 
 "Why don't Vou have them arr^,f-,i ♦u 
 "P'racy? If you overhear/^!!! f""!!! *''*°' ^^'^^n- 
 could be convicted." "" '" "'"' """' *''^ *""^^ and 
 
;!■■:/ I$i 
 
 1 
 
 ';*-::i:;l 
 
 1 
 
 iti-^44 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^■.i.::-.h\ 
 
 ESt 
 
 
 1 
 
 156 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 " Not in Milton. Mr. Strong. Besid-s the" was no 
 name mentioned. And the talk was scattermr-hke. They 
 Tshrd devils. But we could tell they meant y.u plam 
 enough-not to prove anything in court, though. 
 
 • Sd you carne to warn me ? That was land of you 
 my brother!" Phillip spoke with the wmsomc affection 
 Tor men that enabled him to "grapple them to h.s soul 
 with hoops of steel." . .„ , 
 
 " Yes. Mr. Strong, and 1 tell you the rumm.es wUl al- 
 most hold a prayer meeting when you- leave M.Uon^/j^ 
 they mean to make you trouble enough until you do 
 leave. If I was you," thf man paused cunously- H I was 
 you, I'd get up and leave this God-forsaken town. Mr. 
 
 ^*'"You would?" Phillip glanced at the letter which 
 still lay open on the couch beside him. " SupPOse I should 
 say fhad about made up my mind to do just that thing? 
 
 "Oh, no, Mr. Strong, you don't mean that! ine 
 man made a gesture toward JPhilHp that revealed a world 
 of longing and hunger for fellowship that made Philips 
 heart throb with a feeliftg of intenfc joy, mingled with an 
 ache of pain. The man at once repressed his emotion. It 
 had been like a lightning flash out of. a summer cloud 
 
 "Yes," said Phillip, as if continuing, "1 have been 
 thinking of leaving Milton." xt * 11 
 
 " That might be best. You're in danger here. No teli- 
 =ng when some harm may coi^.e to you." 
 
 " Well, I'm thinking I might as well leave. My work 
 here has been a f^'i'ure, anyway." 
 
 " Whit ! A failure ? Mr. Strong, you don't know the 
 facts There has never been a minister in Milton who did 
 ,0 much for the poor and the workingman as yourself ! 
 Let le tell you." the man continued w^th an earnestness 
 that concealed an emotion he was trying to subdue, " Mr. 
 
 . A.^ 1^.... MiU/tn nnw it WAuM be A 
 
 StruUg, n you «-crc lu i-=t- --. — -- ^ 
 
 (jrcwi^r low to the common people thw yot» can im»fJnf. 
 
 ' '^nHBBHUH^HflllHi^sBHl^^HnHSI^^F^^^vllB*^'' -' 
 
work 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. ,57 
 
 Itn C "r". ''' '"' ^°"'" •"«"^"« '"^n^ «s is very 
 y^ar ■ aL I J'"' T ''''*°" ^^ '°^ ^^ '"^ ^- thirty 
 
 months you have been here V™. . . " '"* ' ' 
 
 a failure- i. 1,.. I " "'°'''' ''"« h" "ot heen 
 
 a lailure, it Has been a great success " 
 
 telltilr. "°" °"', °' '"'""''•'' ''' "-i ™"«<i down and 
 
 « .T™.;rhrre,!raV:r crrb'^r* ■''^ 
 
 . were asli„,"a Vrea. IT" ^'"""" " ""^""^ « « - 
 
 .ou"hTrr;^;,'',;i"°;f ' ^T"' """ -- -"■« 
 
 .our .-in..he?v<:"::c„"e":,„:'L'::°„7bor "t r 
 
 most compel you to «itav t ? '*°*'^ *"*• »'" 
 
 «Hng. An'd ,« he danger yojrin .I '"J-'"!."'' °' '""' 
 
 Phillip roused himsefnp ""term"':'''* "'■"'•' "■"■"- 
 
 o d-time flfl.!»i «f ..• u^ ' .' '""'^'^"Pt'n» his visitor. The 
 
 on that ac "unt \Z T" ° '''"-"""?«' •" »<., ins, 
 beaten me Tif I M,'™"""'" """''' "■■»'• "«!■ "..d 
 
 .e ;;;„'„ !::u,^;r,?irr'ri ;:ti?°-''^- -- 
 
 of my heart for the love vn« L u *"^ ^^^ °«t' 
 
 -re than words cL "e^Us .•■"if Sli"^' ".T"' 
 wlh a wearied look on his face wlf " ';""* ""* 
 vealed his deep sati.taclL !/^V ' "«««'•«'«»•. re- 
 
 "-ip as thismL hldtrSim '°"*'" °' "* ' '""O- 
 
 nuic"rnX'r.:?.'r^:::!L"- ■•«-■"• 'o-owm, 
 ' » «o„ o" «Mu„;„-o7i;Vi;i;v;irr ttZ' 
 
 i>i 
 
 " •4I 
 
■'[: 
 
 %■" 
 
 .58 THE CKUCmXlON or PBILUP STRONG. 
 
 ences in the churdh. hts c°°*f J^^*^^^^ ^f ^^at they would 
 dent influence over tb^m. J-^e th°^^^^^^^^ ^is n«. work, the 
 feel in case he le * Mdt°" to accept ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^.^k 
 dissatisfaction at the thought ot a ^^^ ^^^ ^^ 
 
 abandoned-all this and much -<>- J"rg ^^^^^ ^^ 
 
 his mind and heart hke »^eavy *'^» ° ^^^^,,1, ,g,in 
 it rushes into some deep f^^-^l^^^^^^ ^^ ,,,, a sitting 
 with noise and po-v^r. ««^*"^^* ^^ f,u j^om the couch 
 position, and with pam oj ^^^y^f 7^;,^ „pon the letter. 
 Spon his knees, and with ins face ^^.^i^ ^^^,^ fee 
 which he spread out before h.m wtth Jo ^^^^ .^ ^^ 
 sobbed out a yearning cry to h.s Master 
 
 darkness. ^ j^ did not seem to 
 
 It came as he ^ncel d th^re *nj ^^^^^ ,,„, 
 
 him at all strange or absurd that « he^ ^^^ ^^^ 
 
 to his thought a picture «« J^^ J^f ^^^ . y^^^ work is 
 could almost hear the f °^J" f 'J^^Jlt a man shall re- 
 
 '' ^nihr^^rhf i^^^^^^ '^'^' '' 
 
 nouncc all that he nam nc j^. g^^e 
 
 i,, thb p>rtic,.l.r »ay. "« "" "°| ^, ,,„^. He lay 
 m. or given » J^'"'"' '° ^'^ i° fcu l».rl tot *. 
 down upon '^'-t'l^^hU o^^ roiscience in d«iJin« 
 
 ^**''- . ^ i-.*r Mrs Strong came up, Phil- 
 
 When, a few minutes later, Mrs. dwo b 
 V ;«Mh«r exactly how he had decided, 
 lip told her exactly no tenements yet; 
 
 "I cannot leave these poor fellows in » 
 
 ckorc*, oh. S.r.h.J >f« 'j_^^ ,j^^. ^^bv^ „«-! 
 
^ rm C^VcmxtOU OP PHILLIP StRONG. I59 
 
 church very soorat J cJn ?r" ''°'^ ^°^ '"^ «"d thf 
 I should accept t'he^I to T ^'"''' ''* '""''-^' ^^^^ " 
 haunted by that ghost of D^r'"'"' '^""'' ^'^'^^ ^e 
 from which would „,ake It '""'"d-ec; and run away 
 I^<^ar little woman " PhmTn " '''^^ '" ^^^ '"^ ^"'"'•^ wor> 
 head down and wked h r tL '"' ^''^ ^«- ''- wife's 
 Pointment fell from her "Sr'"' "'"^ """' ->' d«^- 
 ^'« fhe dearest of all earthlv h^ ''°"''"' ^°" '^"^^ :^» 
 tells me the reason you Wed^''"«' '° '"«• And my soul 
 t-ubles with me was tha"' J"f '"""T *° ^'^^^^ ^^^^'s 
 coward in the face of mtd 1/ """ ^ *=°"'^ "°t be a 
 
 Is it not so ? " ™^ **"'^' '"y conscience, and my God 
 
 ^Jhe answer came in a sob o. mingled anguish and hap- 
 
 -'• tl'av^'^^i^^ r^sV^- '- -- -^e I wanted ^ 
 '^fted her-head with a ,nL ,h f "°"- ^'^^ " C-"« s'^e 
 ri''"^P " (she quoted rtm tuTh^' w H^ "^"^-"-«*' 
 whuher thou goest I wTll 1 .% T*^' *° ^^on^O, 
 ^ «'•" lodge; thy people sha J b.' ''^*''' ^'^^^ ''^**«f« 
 
 '"3^ God. Where Lu di n ^ rd'e''°^J\"''' *^^ G-<* 
 htmed; the Lord do so to tZV^ "'' '''" ^ ''« 
 
 death part thee and me'» ^ ^^ '"°'^ *'^° '^ «"?ht but 
 
 ^- :::rc^s ^fiS'r'^ --^^ - -^^-and 
 
 and luxurious habits as the Ir!' /''" "'*"""^ **P^"«ive 
 <^"d«re the life he had p LLTh ". ''''* ^^"""'^ -"^ 
 Christian living i„ ^ener ;t,- ?' '"r"' ^"'^ ''^ '<»«* 0I 
 »>» had been so mfnded And I' '°"'' '^^^ *°'^ ^''^^ ^^ 
 v<-aled it to anyone who knew T '""* '^^"'^ '^^-^ ^e- 
 «-they really were. That wala ' ""T"' *"' ^'^' ^'^e 
 ^"d wife, something that be^o„ i **• '""* *° ^"shand 
 thi-gs which th. u,lu i^'°"»*** t° them, one of .h„I: 
 to know. . " ■ ""' ""*■ "- ^"ow and had no bus7ness 
 
l60 tHE CRUClttXlOK OF tlULLlP StRONG. 
 
 When the first Sunday of another month had come 
 PnS^t .uite^ell a«am. ^^^iJ^ZI^lZ^Z 
 v,cw had got.^ out, and to the tew m 
 asked him about it he did not deny, but h« ^^'^ '^^^*j^ ^ 
 ii...t was orecious to him. He plunged mto the work witn 
 riSlsm and a purpose which ^^^ ^^ ^ 
 led-e that he was at last gaming some tnUuence n 
 
 tenement district. neighborhood was grow- 
 
 The condition oriffa»rs'n that n g ^^ ^.^^ ^^^ 
 
 ...n'; "'^ 0. ... con«c«». -;-- «rc; 
 
 lives ol Ubor were consp.coous m the 8'»"«'- "°J 
 whom Phillip had ..sisted at one t.m. and another were 
 Tatters! ahont through the house, mostly m the back 
 eaHnder the choir galler-. His own m.«h««h,p was 
 
 r^Lnt'd by -- «»». »••"' °''°frrris;Vev^h.l«. 
 Christian m. and «' j-^-'^^-,"' ^r^JLtoHhe 
 continued to go and hear him p.eacn. i ^r.-tion by 
 
 sexton's application for membership -"'^J^*^ " f °^^^^ 
 vote had also told somewhat m favor of Phiinp^ ^J^ 
 ,,any preachers would have resigned^after^ -^^^ 
 Phillip had said his s^y aDout u, anu .it." ,...— _ " . . 
 or be interviewed by the papers on the cubject. But this 
 
tH£ Cllt;clFIX10N or PHlLLlf STRONG. l6l 
 • Cbrist"!heM." T 1 **'* '''* '""''^«« '" 'he person of 
 
 sZtZj^ZZ ^'"'!"^"^ ^•=*"<=^ the thought of the 
 great wealth m the possession of the church which mieht 
 
 the Ten f 'T'"" ^'^^ ''^^^ °^ '^--"<1« Tf peopr 
 Phiilip'rcrv to fht T'"'*' °" them-this voiced 
 
 vivid pTciur.'fT,'''.? ■" """' "" """ ''""i-8 • 
 
 getting the rent from T, tenements, who are 
 
 out 4riv n^le^vt ot'ir ■"°"'*' ""'° ">"'"• "'"- 
 of life, so chan« IV 1 I °"'^"" °' '"» '"""O' 
 
 the, ;„n,/e"^' * pSteVod ^' ?'°"' «■" 
 and be able to see his Inv. • ?u ** ^*' «'^"' them, 
 
 my brethren is not ?J ' ''^" °^ '^'^ ^'^'^'P'"- Oh 
 
 J uicmren, is not this your oonnrh.»i;*«5 mru . ' 
 
 compared with humanity? WhaMs 1/ ^''^* '^ "^^^^ 
 d.scu>;eship unless we are using wha God T"""^ °^ °"^ 
 build up His kingdom ? The Jin! ' ^'^'" "^ '° 
 
 church eould rebuild the entirr.'' "P"'"*"**'* by this 
 
 men who own these buIdinS'^Phnr"* .'"*"^' ^^^ 
 suddenly become aware tW k' ^^"'P P»"«d as if he had 
 
 thing; then after a bdef hesiL""** ^' "^'"* »" ""-« 
 his own doubt, he repeated "Th"' "' '' "* '*' '''^'^^ " 
 tenements (and member ?f;ther I T "'" °''" *'^"'' 
 owners) are guilty in the stht of r Il'f '' "" '""^"^ the 
 beings in His image to «row 1 u f '"°*'"« ^umar 
 
 iHRs when it i, in the power "? ^ '"''' ''°"'"* ''""'^""d- 
 rore they Shan recerv?:^e:;e°^rZ!l^!^':^. ^''- 
 wncr. Christ sits on the throne n( tL ~. '"""'" "" '"^ '*'*'' 
 woHd. Kor .„ He no. ^^ZTj^-^^X^Z-; 
 
mi 
 
 M: 
 
 162 THE CRtJCmxU OF PHILLIP StRONO. 
 
 .as hungry, and ye gave ^^e^^;,,^^; ^'^^^^ . 
 clothed Me not; s>ck and u^ ^^^ , ^^ ^^^^^ p^,,es 
 
 wuh hlth ^^'^f'^^^^^Zs. men and women ami 
 and visited Me not ? l^o are thes ^^ ^ ^^.^^ . ^^ 
 
 chuuren not car brnhren Y.^ ly. J. ^^^ ^^ ^^.^ 
 
 our h.nd. oh --^^ f;f,;',;t woTdUpier - etter, 
 God's ^> < £-^f1y so a^ to ^a^;"*^ carel.3S o- orr 
 
 own respov.sibJ ,1. ar.n account of facts con- 
 
 PhUU, ....<i ^- ^""tr^the^prhehir..elf had 
 
 cern,.g the r.^diUo. >^/°7 ^V^^.^^Hhan one l-^^pcrty 
 
 v..itta WV..n the '^^^'''^;^ '^''llterTvXm'^ ^oUl and. 
 owner .ent away secretly enraged f J^ J ^^,^^ 
 
 a, most oi them f-4 -"*^ ^^ ^^^T And yet l. had 
 ,. their business; ^^^ J^/^^^, ^"^i„ private wivh the 
 , gone to more than one of these ^en P ^^^ .^ ^^^ ^ 
 same message. Had he not the r.ght P ^ ^^^^^ 
 
 Did not Christ do so ? WouW H not^do^s^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ 
 here on earth agam ? - d Fmmp. indifference 
 
 seeing the mighty power of ^^^^J- ^^^^ ^^^., ^etermina- 
 of these men . the whole ">»**^^'/"f ^J„ „{ ;, without 
 tion to conduct the r busmess for the g^n o ^^^^^^^ 
 
 to thousands of church members to-day-the "^^^^y- 
 
 his heart <^'^y>"8 ou .fcnunciation, yet with 
 
 with a somewhat unwise energy 01 
 
 "Would Christ say it? Would He say it ? ^ndhi^sen 
 
 in those days so rapidly drawing to their tretnen ^ ^^^ 
 
 He" bowed : soul of him to ms :w==r.. ,--- - 
 
*3' /" 
 
 'W 
 
 >"-■ 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 163 
 
 PhiH?n iT'.^ ^°"°*T '^'' ^""^"^ *^^ ""*= °^ »he busiest 
 
 a t li /,?"": ^''*^ *''* ''^P^^^^*^ ^^ -*•■'"" weather, 
 a great deal of sickness came on. He was going early and 
 
 late on errands of mercy to the poor souls all about his 
 
 h7..T'; /u^' ''"^''^' ^'^-^hnn now and loved him. 
 He com orted h.s sp.nt with that knowledge as he prayed 
 and worked. 
 
 He was going through one of the narrow couj:t» one 
 night on his way home, with his head bent down and his 
 thoughts on some scene of suflFering, when he was quickly 
 confronted by a man who stepped quickly out from a 
 shadowed corner, threw one arm about Phillip's neck and 
 placed his other hand over his mouth and attempted to 
 , throw him over backward. 
 
 It was very late, and no one was in sight. Phillip said 
 
 to himself, " This is the attack of which I was warned." 
 
 He was taken altogether by surprise, but being active and 
 
 self-possessed, he sharply threw himself forward, repelling 
 
 his assailant's attack, and succeeded in pulling the man's 
 
 hand away from his mouth. His first instinct was to cry 
 
 out for help; his next was to keep still. He suddenly felt 
 
 the. other giving way. The assailants strength seemed to 
 
 be leavmg hin. Phillip, calling up- some of his knowledge 
 
 gained while in coHege. threw his entire weight upon him 
 
 and to bis surprise the man offered no resistance. They 
 
 both fell heavily upon the ground, the stranger underneath 
 
 He had not spoken, and no one had yet appeared. As the 
 
 man lay there motionless. Phillip rose and stood over him 
 
 By the dim light tliat partly illuminated the court from a 
 
 street lamp farther on. Phillip saw t^iat hfs assailant was 
 
 stunned. There was a pump not far away. Phillip went 
 
 over and brought some water. After a few momen*-j the 
 
 man recovered consciousness. He sat up and looked about 
 
 r. \, •"-;;""*"=' rnniip stoou near by. Iooking~at 
 htm tJinughtfuJly. 
 
 *■ M 
 
 '^jk.. 
 
l64 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 As the man looked up at Phillip in a dazed condition. 
 
 Phillip said slowly - ^ ^j^ „ attack 
 
 " You're not hurt badly, I hope, wny um , 
 
 "*^" A ♦«« hewildered to answer. Phillip 
 
 ..riomi, h«« s«c«ed.d in drawmg •^l" »'° "=3 on. 
 
 ru^^itx::^"?-n:^^^p- 
 
 ^xacty Tor the way in which the confidence be^^we-J. « 
 and hU assailant had been brought ^^^"^JJ'.'^ I""^ 
 and all that followed from it has such a bearing on the 
 crucifixion that it belongs to the whole story. _ 
 
 "Then you say." went on Phillip after th^J*^^ ^ *» 
 talking in brief questic^ and answer for a ^ew mm«tes 
 " you say that you meant to rob me. takmg me for another 
 
 ™*"Yes. I thought you was the mill-man-what is his 
 
 '"'^' WhriS^you want to rob him ?" Phillip asked, not 
 
 knowing just what to say. t,-.o««» 
 
 The man replied, harshly, alpost savagely, Because 
 
 he has money and I Was hungry." 
 
 " How long have you been hungry ?" ^^ 
 
 - i have not had anything to eat for almost three days. 
 
 . f.-j^^u.u»^«f ilntf» Pnnr CommtSSIOtlCfS. 
 
 - j^^j-£ js loot* t^ -"^ -.«-- «- *— 
 
 Did you know th^\ faft ?" 
 
•-Sb 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 165 
 
 The man did not answer, and Phillip asked him again. 
 The reply came in a tone of bitter emphasis that made the 
 mmister start : 
 
 .u J"' l"""^* '*' ^ *°''^*' **"^* •^"^ofe I would go to 
 tne I'oor Commissioners for food." 
 
 " Or steal ?" asked Phillip, gently. 
 
 " Yes, or steal. Wouldn't you ?" 
 
 Phillip stared out into the darkness of the court and 
 answered honestly, "I don't know." 
 
 There was a short pause. Then Phillip asked : 
 Can t you get work ?" 
 
 It was a hopeless question to put to a man in a town of 
 over two thousand idle men. The answer was what Phillip 
 knew It would be : 
 
 o,./T*"'V ^^^" ' P''^ "P * ^"*^*' °^ «°'<» '" the street 
 " wu' \ ^" * '"^" «** *°'^ ^herc there ain't any ?" 
 What have you been doing ?" 
 
 " I was fireman in the Lake Mills. Good job. Lost it 
 when they closed down last winter." 
 
 I What have you been doing since ?" 
 Anything I could get." 
 
 "Are you a married man ?" 
 
 The question affected the other strangely. He tremb- 
 led a 1 over, but his head between his kneeS. and out of Ws 
 hearts angu.sh flowed the words. «I had\r wife ^ ShJs 
 ^hatrGorrl^"- ir*""'*^'"^'- SWs dead, too 
 
 who had it 7n the J ^°** '-*"** <=""" on all rich men 
 
 f^l n„ Ju f ^"'^*'" *° P"*^*"* the hell other peoole 
 
 i^e othe:ro;,dr -"'''' ''-^ -"^ ^-^ '- ^'^--^-t 
 
 any'i^afsay to aLT "'*'"'"^ '*^'" ''°'"* *^'"«- ^hat could 
 FinaHy he safd "' """ ""*'*^' '"^'^ circumsfances ? 
 
 do with money if I give you some ?" 
 
 '< tir« 
 
 "I don't v^i. 
 
 /^ 
 
 /our money." replied the man. 
 
l66 THE :kUCIFIX10W of PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 "I thought you did a little while ago," said PhiU;^, 
 
 simply. 
 
 "it was the mill-owner's mon<:y 1 wanted. Yo:, re tlio 
 preacher, aren't you, up at Calvary Church ?" 
 ' Yes. How did yuu know ?" 
 I've seen you. Heard you preach once. I never 
 Ihi ii<?ht I should come to this— holding up a preacher 
 down here!" And the man laughed a hard, short laugh. 
 " Then you're not—" Phillip hardly knew how to say 
 it He wanted to say that .aan was not connected iu i.iy 
 way with the saloon element; "you're driven to this 
 desperate course on your dwn account ? The reason I ask 
 is that I h-xvt been threatened by t e whiskey men, and at 
 first I supposed you were on^ of them." 
 
 "No, sir," was the answer, almost in disgust. ' I may 
 be pretty .ad, sir, yet not so low as that." 
 " Then ytnf only motive was hunger ?" 
 " That was all. Enough, ain't it ?" 
 " We can't discuss the matter here," said Phillip. He 
 hesitated, rose, and stood thei. looking at the man who sat 
 now with his head resting in his arms, whi h wer^ folded 
 across his kne-r Two or three arsons came out of a 
 street near by ' wall i past. hillip kn^w them, and 
 said ^ood-eVening. They thought he was helping some 
 drunken man, a thinar Phillip had often done, and they went 
 along without str, »..i ;,. Again thr street was 'cserted. 
 " What will you lo now ?" askc \ Phillip " Where will 
 
 you go ?" 
 
 "God knows. I am an outcast his earth!" 
 
 " Have you no home ?" 
 
 " Home! Yes; the gutter j s t, the bottom the 
 
 rivw." ... 
 
 "My brother!" Phillip laid his hand on the rr=.ns 
 shoulder, "come home with me, have someuiiiig io ■;, 
 and sta:, with me awhile." 
 
 h 
 s 
 a 
 if 
 
 s« 
 
 *c 
 ai 
 ai 
 
 )-^!:^^.i^\-M^''Wj^^^^^^^-S^^ 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 167 
 
 The man looked up and stared at Phillip through the 
 semi-darkness. 
 
 " What, go home with you! That would be a good one 
 after trying to hold you up! I'll tell you what you ought 
 to do. Take me to the police station and have me arrested 
 for attempt at highway robbery. Then I'd get lodgings 
 and victuals for nothing." 
 
 Phillip smiled slightly. " T would not help ipatters 
 any. And if you know me at all you know I would never 
 do any such thing. Come home with me No one except 
 you and myself need ever know what has happened to- 
 night. I have food at my home, and you are huqgry. We 
 both belong to the .ame Father-God. Why should I not 
 help you if I want to*?" 
 
 It was all Said so calmly, so lovingly, 5 , honestly that 
 the man softened under it. A tear rolled over his cheek. 
 He brushed his hand over his eyes. It was a long time 
 f e any one had called him "brother." 
 
 Com !" Phillip reachec' out his hand and helped him 
 to rise. he man staggered, and might have faflen if 
 Philhp . not supported him. " I am faint and dizzy " 
 he said. ■" 
 
 "Courage now! My home is not far off ; we shaU soon 
 be there," said Phillip, cheerfully. His companion was 
 silent. As they came up to the door Phillip said, "I haven'f 
 asked your name but it might save a little awkwardne 
 •f I knew it." 
 
 "William-" Phillip did not hear the last name, it was 
 spoken in such a low vofce. 
 
 " Never mind: ue'I! ,a!I you William if it's all the same 
 *o you. And Phillip went into the house with thr man 
 and at once made him feel z: home by means of that simple 
 and yet powerful spirit of brotherhood which was reaHv 
 >u .cvei all false distinctions, and which possibly saw in 
 prophetic vision the coming e nt in his own ca. .r when 
 
 n 
 
l68 THE CRUCIF' aON OF PHILLIP STRUWG. 
 
 all distinctions of title and name would be- as worthless as 
 dust in the scales of eternity. 
 
 Mrs. Strong at once set food upon the table, and then 
 she and Phillip with true delicacy busied themselves in an- 
 other room so as not to watch the man while he ate. When 
 he h?d satisfied his hunger Phillip showed him the little 
 room where the Brother Man had stayed one night. 
 
 " You may make i' your own as long as you will,' 
 Phillip said. " You may look upon it as simply a part 
 of what has been given us to be used for the Father's 
 children." 
 
 The man seemed dazed by the result of his encounter 
 with the preacher. He murmured something about thanks. 
 He was evidently very much worn, 'and the excitement of 
 the evening had given place to an appearance of dejection 
 that alarmed Phillip. After a few words he went out and 
 left the man, who said that he felt very drowsy. 
 
 " I believe he is going to have a fever or something," 
 Phillip said to his wife as he joined her in the other room. 
 He related his meeting with the man, making very light 
 of his attack, and, indeed, excusing it on the grouwd of his 
 desperate condition. 
 
 " What shall we do with him, Phillip ?". 
 
 " We must keep him here until he finds work. I be- 
 live this is one of the cases that call for personal care. We 
 cannot send him away; the man's entire future depends on 
 our treatment of him. But I don't like his looks; I fear 
 he is Roing to be a sick man." 
 
 Phillip's fear was realized. The next motning he found 
 his lodger in the clutch of a fever. Before night he was 
 delirious. And Phtllip, with the burden of his work weigh- 
 ing heavier on him every moment, took up this additional 
 load, and prayed his Lord to give him strength to carry it 
 and save another soul. 
 
 It was at the time of this event in Phillip's life that an- 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 169 
 
 other occurred which had its special bearing upon the crisis 
 of all this life. 
 
 . I J^'.u*"""'^, "^^^ '*"'■ *° ^" ^*'°»«*"' ^°^«d by him with 
 • love that only very few of the members understood. In 
 spite of h.8 apparent failure to rouse the church to a con- 
 ception of her duty as he saw it, Phillip was confident that 
 the spirit of God would accompirsh the miracle which he 
 could not do Then there were those in Calvary Church 
 who sympathized heartily with him. and were ready to fol- 
 low his leadership. He was not without fellowship, and it 
 gave him courage. Add to ^hat the knowledge that he had 
 «a.ned a place in the affection of the working-people and 
 
 nd dTdUn'^^' ""°" "'^ ''•''"'P '''^' "P ^-5 heart 
 r„.o? "°*J*^\*''^ P'^"^"^' sensitiveness enter too largely 
 
 Zll """u u */''• °'*^°""^' '"'P^"''^*- f°r him to hide 
 from himself the fact ti.at very many members of the church 
 had been offended by much that he had said and done' 
 
 parish ti"!'' ^i "'" '" '""^ "°^'^ *° «o ^»>-* his 
 existed H^ l f °"' '''' ^"'"'"*^ °' °PP°-''0" that 
 Hewas o^llll "ll T«''«'''°^ ^^^y^dcd the church. 
 
 amo^ th. "^ V '^' """"• ^''^"^^«'- he lectured 
 
 among the workingmen the hall was filled to overflowinir 
 He CO Id not acknowledge even to himself that IS 3 
 could long withstand the needs of the age and the Xe 
 
 an/f ♦!,-. /-u t . *-n"st as He would act to-dav 
 
 and the Church would respond, and at last in a mighT; 
 
 hurch " ^"V'""r'''" *'^°^ '*"" -*° »he woTth' 
 church was made to do. ' 
 
 So he began to plan for a series of Sunday-night ser- 
 
 Sn't n"- ^T '"'*'''" ^' '^'"^^" ^''^ '^" known. 
 Phillips hfe ,n the tenement dist.ict and his growing 
 
 fari:^^:.:^lt.'f-.--l^ »-... convinced him'of th! 
 
170 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 seemed to him that the first step to a successful solution of 
 that problem, as far as the church was concerned, was for 
 the church and the workingman to get together on some 
 common platform for a better mutual understanding. He 
 accordingly planned for a series of Sunday-night services, 
 in which his one great purpose was to unite the church 
 and the labor unions in a scheme of mutual helpfulness. 
 His plan was very simple. He invited into the meetingv 
 on or two thoughtful leaders of the mill-men and asked 
 them to state in the plainest terms the exact condition of 
 affairs in the labor world from their standpoint Then 
 Phillip, for the church, took up their statements, their com- 
 plaints, or the reasons for^' their differences with capital, 
 and answered them from the Christian standpoint : What 
 would Christ advise under these circumstances ? lie had 
 different subjects presented on different evenings. One 
 night it was reasons why the mill-men were not in the 
 church. Another night it was the demand of men for 
 better houses, and how to get them. Another night it was 
 the subject of strikes and the attitude of Christ on wages 
 and the relative value of the wage-earners' product and 
 the capitalists' intelligence. At each meeting Phillip 
 allowed one or two of the invited leaders to take the plat- 
 form, and say very plainly what to his mind was the cause 
 and what the remedy for the poverty and crime and suffer- 
 ing of the world. Then he closed the evening's discussion 
 by a calm, clear statement of what was to him the direct 
 application of Jesus' teaching to the point at issue. 
 
 Finally, as this series drew to a close at the end of the 
 month, a subject came up which roused intense feeling. 
 It was the subject of wealth, its power, responsibility, 
 meaning, and Christian use. The church was jammftd in 
 every part of it. The services had been so unusual, the 
 conduct of them had so ofteh been intensely practical, the 
 
 pCiIiXS IXliSClC Uiivj utJ unci* wxxx n^^ii;;"!. tifz •: .* 't' t'tjj *_-**-••-•. ** 
 
 that great mobs of mill-mei) filed into the room and for 
 
THE CMcmxtOU OF PUtLLtP StRoNG. i;i 
 
 the time being took possession of Calvary Church. For 
 the four Sunday nights of that series PhilJip faced great 
 crowds mostly of growu-up men, crowds that his soul 
 yearned over with unspeakable emotion, wonderful au- 
 diences for Calvary to witness, the like of which Milton 
 nad never seen. 
 
 We cannot do better than give the evening paper's ac- 
 count of this last service in the series. With one or two 
 shsht exaggerations the account was a faithful pict«fe of 
 one of the most remarkable meetings ever held in Milton 
 ^ he paper, after speaking cf the series as a sensaiional de- 
 parture from the old church methods, w.nt on to say : 
 
 It will be safe tc say that those who were fortunate 
 enough to secure standing-room in Rev. Mr. Strong's 
 
 n Tht T' "'^'* '"."■' '"' "" ''''"^^ *'^^' "° ot'^^'- church 
 m (his town ever witnessed. 
 
 " In-the first place, it was a most astonishing crowd of 
 
 S eTwer 1'' "^^'^ ^'"='"^' '"^""^"^ ^^ Present bu 
 hey were m the mmority. The mill-men swarmed in and 
 
 ounged on the easy-cushioned pe.s of the Calvary Church 
 
 ZZi::: "' "r '""^^'' '^ '°""«^' ^"* '^^y «"'<; 
 
 luxury :;•'.' '"' "^""' '"^ ^"^^^ ^•'^ -"^-t and 
 
 dtnJoiMTrV' '^ '''"'"^ ^'' '^''''^' ^"d the Presi- 
 
 of the V ew which' T""'^ °^'*'""" ""'^^ * '^^^''""t 
 «» 1 I 7 J , workmgmcn in general have of w-alth 
 as related to labor of hand or brain He stated wMto 
 »"s m.nd was the reason for the discontent he sth oi 
 ZIT "T'r ?' "^' "^^ •" '--^ -f ^"'renng Tr s ck 
 
 o thi;;trel:°^'- '^.'^' ^'"^^ '"-' «* ^''^ -<''^'^'» 
 
 h said 'm' '" """2 '"^' P'^" ^" ^'^^ the world.' 
 ne saia. Men are suffer na for th«> lart «» -... 
 
 continue to liv* ;..o* »„ ; _■_ ._ _ . ' '" ^"* '>p-"'' 
 
 as thev ever H.a f«, "*t •""''"" '°""-' ^"" ^»'*^"<> J«st as much 
 they ever did for things not needful for happines.. It 
 
 Mi 
 
 
172 THE CRUCIFIXION OP PHILLIP STUONd. 
 
 was in the power of the men of wealth in Milton to prevent 
 most if not all of the suffering here this last winter and 
 spring. It was in their power to see that the tenements 
 were better built and arranged for health and decency. It 
 was in their power to do a thousand things that money, 
 and money alone, can do, and I believe they will be held 
 to account for not doing some of those things!' 
 
 "At this point some one in the gallery shouted out, 
 ' Hang the aristocrats!' Instantly Rev. Mr. Strong rose 
 and stepped to the front of the platform. Raising his long, 
 ■ sinewy arm and stretching out his open hand in appeal, he 
 said, while the great audience was perfectly quiet, ' I will 
 not allow any such disturbahce at this meeting. We are 
 here, not to denounce people, but to find the truth. Let 
 every fair-minded man bear that in mind.' 
 
 " The preacher sat down, and the audience cheered. 
 Then before the President of the Assembly could go on, 
 a man rose in the body of the house and asked if he might 
 say a word. 
 
 " Mr. Strong said he might if he would be brief. The 
 man then proceeded to grve a list of people who, he said, 
 were becoming criminals because they couldn't get work. 
 After he had spoken a minute Rev. Mr. Strong asked him 
 to come to the point and show what bearing his facts had 
 on the subject of the evening. The man seemed to be- 
 come confused, and finally his friends or the people near 
 him pulled him down, and the President of the Trades 
 Assembly resumed the discuss-on, closing with the state- 
 ment that never in the history of the country had there 
 been so much money in the banks and so ttle of it in the 
 pockets of the people; and when that was vi fact something 
 was wrong; and it was for the men who owned the money 
 to right that wrong, for it lay in their power, not with the 
 poor than. 
 
 -1 I 
 
 esting talk by Rev. Mr. Strong on the Christiati teaching 
 
tHE CRUCIFIXION OF PHlLLiP StRONG. i;j 
 
 interrupted by applause, once with hisses, several times 
 
 with questions He was hissed when he spoke of the great 
 
 elfishness of the labor unions and trades organizations in 
 
 Inrl TT u° ^'"'''^ *° °'^" '"«" '" ^h« "tatter of 
 work. With th>s one exception, in which the reverend 
 gentleman spoke with his 'usual frankness, the audience 
 cheered his presentation of the subject, and was evidently 
 his';!!"^ nT'''"^ r'^ ^''' ''''^'- Short extracts from 
 
 the"glor7of God: ^'^^ ' "^^ ^^^"'^ ^'^°""^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^° 
 as abou?U?t?'"^ °^ Christianity about wealth is the same 
 
 be us!d k1 "^ "'" '■ " '" ^^^°"«^ ^° God, and should 
 bemused by the man as God would use it in the man's 
 
 church members among the rest, that the money .hey ge 
 s their own to do with as they please. Men have no righ 
 
 The accumulation of vast sums of money by indi- 
 viduals or classes of men has always been a bad t^'n "for 
 society. A few very rich men and a great number of very 
 
 .nd .f '" -n ^■^"' ^'"^ '^' ^"'^^ *he French Revolution 
 and the guillotine. • 
 
 t.;n7^^'^u'^ "'"*^'" conditions true of society at cer- 
 veVT^r ,\" '' '' ''^ ^^-^- <^"ty of the ric'h to use 
 every cent hey possess to. relieve the need of society 
 Such a condition faces us to-day. ^' 
 
 "'The foolish and unnecessary expenditure of societv 
 on Its trivial pleasures at a time when men and women a e ' 
 ou o work and children are crying for food is a cr'd.nd 
 unchristian waste of opportunity. 
 
t74 I'hE CkUciflXloN Ob PHILLIP StRONO. 
 
 to Almighty God, and they are only trustees of his pro- 
 perty. 
 
 This is the only true use of wealth : that the man 
 who has it recognize its power and privilege to make 
 others happy, not provide himself luxury. 
 
 " ' The church that thinks more of fine architecture and 
 paid choirs than of opening its doors to the people that 
 they may hear the Gospel, is a chur:h that is mortgaged 
 for all it is worth to the devil, who will foreclose at the 
 first opportunity. 
 
 " ' The first duty of every man who has money is to ask 
 himself. What would Christ have me do with it ? The 
 second duty is to go andjdo it, after hearing the answer. 
 
 " ' If the money owned by church members were all 
 spent to the glory of God there would be fewer hundred- 
 thousand dollar churches built and more model tenements. 
 
 " ' If Christ had been a millionaire he would have used 
 his money to build up character in other people, rather 
 than build a magnificent brown-stone palace for himself 
 But we cannot imagine Christ as a millionaire. 
 
 " ' It is just as true now as when Paul said it nearly 
 twenty centuries ago : " The love of money is a root of all 
 kinds of evil "; it is the curse of our civilization, the great- 
 est passion of the human race to-day. 
 
 " ' Our civilization is only partly Christian. For Chris- 
 tian civilization means more comforts : ours means more 
 wants. 
 
 " ' If a man's pocket-book is not converted with his soul 
 the man will not get into heaven on it. 
 
 " ' There are certain things that money alone can secure; 
 but among those things it cannot buy is character. 
 
 " 'All wealth, from the Christian standpoint, is in the 
 
 nature of trust funds, to be so «sed by the administrator 
 
 as God, the owner, shall direct. No man owns the money 
 
 for himself. The gold is God's, the silver is God's! That 
 
 w the plain and repeated teaching of the Bible. 
 
THE CKUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 175 
 
 " ' It IS not wrong for man to make money , It is wronir 
 ^or ham to use it selfishly or foolishly. ^ 
 
 oroviH. °"'l'?*'''' '^"^ ^'^^'^ °^ *h« '»'" ot Milton could 
 use o? th!° °W T? ''''' "^"^ •" *«*"• The Christian 
 
 of thl^°'* °f ^^^ ""''' °^ **"•• P'""'="t condition flow out 
 world ^:,h'i," " """ ""'"' "■' °™" <" " "■-- '".e 
 
 "bilily and privilege '''" """ '"P""" 
 
 *sr'Hedi;:;:iwrj:;?j;:tfd ""•""'- •^' -^ 
 
 of the selfish rieh. "•'^■""■'fo.ts warning, i„ ,h, ,,„ 
 
 had it ? ""''' *^''"" <■» "'th my money it He 
 
 it would bf rriDossihl,. ,1 -^ . 
 
 «.>- Mr. ..r„„^s .r:;t .itJe'reJ-'otr' r ' "■' 
 
 ft s 
 
176 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 uf the place, for the tearing do^n and remodelling of the 
 tenements, for the solution of the problem of work for 
 thousands of desperate men, the audience rose to their feet 
 and cheered' again and again. 
 
 "At the close of the meeting the minister was sur- 
 rounded by a crowd of men, and an after meeting was held, 
 at which steps were taken to form a committee composed 
 of prominent church people and labor leaders to work if 
 possible together toward a common end. 
 
 " It was rumored yesterday that several of the lesiding 
 members of Calvary Church are very much dissatisfied with 
 the way things have been going during these Sunday- 
 evening meetings, and are likely to withdraw if they con- 
 tinue. They say that Mr. Strong's utterances are social- 
 istic, and tend to inflame the minds of the people to acts 
 of violence. Since the attack on Mr. Winter nearly every 
 mill-owner, in town goes armed and takes extra precautions. 
 Mr. Strong was much pleased with the result of the Sunday 
 night meetings, and said they had done much to bridge the 
 gulf between the church and the people. He refused to 
 credit the talk about disaflfectiofi ii? Calvary Church." 
 
 In another column of this same paper were five sepa- 
 rate accounts of the desperate condition of affairs in the 
 town. The midnight hold-up attacks were growing in fre- 
 quency and in boldness In addition to all the other 
 troubles, the sickness ia the tenement district had assumed 
 the nature of an epidemic of fever, clearly caused by the 
 lack of sanitary regulations, imperfect drainage, and crowd- 
 ing of families. Clearly the condition of matters was grow- 
 ing serious. 
 
 At this time the ministers of different churches in Mil- 
 ton held a meeting to determine en a course of action that 
 would relieve some of the distress. Various plans were 
 submitti .(. Some proposed districting the town to ascer- 
 tain the niiniher of needy f^'niliet- Othsj-* nmnri-^r^ s 
 tinion of benevoiciit offerings to be giva lo the poor. An- 
 
f 1 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 177 
 
 other group suggested something else. To Phillip's mind 
 not one of the plans submitted went to the root of the mat- 
 ter He was not in favor with the other ministers. Most 
 of them thought he was sensational. A good many were 
 jealous of his popularity. However, Phillip made a plea 
 for h,s own plan which was radical, and, as he believed, 
 went to the real heart of the subject. He proposed thai 
 every church ,n town, regardless of its denomination, give 
 
 the social trouble., by personal contact with the suffering 
 
 0^1 ;.? '" *^" ^•'*'''=*' ^''^^ '^^ 'Churches all throw 
 open their doors every day in the week, week-days as well 
 
 matt tL. r *'' ''"^"""" ^"' ^^'^'^'^^ -' '^^ -hole 
 matter, that- the county and the Stale be petitioned to take 
 
 speedy action toward providing necessary labor "or the un 
 
 eTp'enTef T'-f I'" ^'"^'=''"'^"* ^°- ^" -"- -^ 
 expenses of paid choirs, abolish pew rents, urge wealthy 
 
 members to consecrate their riches to the olvfng of he 
 
 problem, and m every way. by personal sacrifice and com! 
 
 in tS piJft great": d'"ir °" ^':^''^ °^ '^' '^^''^ 
 
 the solution of these.,uest:ot'p Ts L^hurTh ^'^ '^^^ 
 to have no share in the greatest nrl * T ^"""'^ 
 
 agitates the world to dayT T •/"" °^ ^"'"'" "^^ '^^' 
 in this town reg rd^hc^u/l " *™' *''* '''' ^'''^'' 
 'nation, unable to he on t^^ ''■ '" '"^'^"'fi*=^"* O'-^ani- 
 
 People.andthep^eahVs;s;^oT:^"^^ '''^'" °^ ^'^^ 
 ^•tH no knowledge 0''^^:^'^::^:^::^^^^-'^. 
 
 

 
 178 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 . ^ ^ 
 
 »f r- 
 
 the whole man ? I have not any faith in the plan proposed 
 to give our benevolence or to district the town and visit 
 the poor. All those things are well fcnough in their place. 
 -But -matters are in such shape here now and all over the 
 country that we must do something larger than that. We 
 must do as Christ would if He were here. What would He 
 do ? Would He give anything less than His whole life to 
 it ? Would He not give Himself ? The Church as an insti- 
 tution is facing the greatest opportunity it ever saw. If 
 we do not seize it on the largest possible scale we shall 
 miserably fail of doing our duty." 
 
 When the meeting adjourned Phillip was aware he had 
 simply put himself out if touch with the majority present. 
 They did not, they could not look upon the' Church as he 
 did. A committee was appointed to investigate the matter 
 and propose a plan of action at the next meeting in two 
 weeks. And Phillip went home smiling almost bitterly at 
 little bulwark which Milton churches proposed to rear 
 against the tide of poverty and crime and drunkenness and 
 political chicanery and wealthy selfishness. To his mind 
 it was a house of paper cards in the path of a tornado. 
 
 Saturday night Phillip was out calling a lutle while, 
 but he came home early. It was the first Sunday of the 
 month on the morrow, and he had not fully prepared his 
 sermon. As he came in, his wife met him with a look of 
 news on her face. 
 
 "Guess who is here ?" she said in a whisper. 
 
 " The Brother Man," replied Phillip, quickly. 
 
 " Yes, but you never can guess what has happened. He 
 is in there with William. And the Brother Man — Phillip, 
 it seems -like a chapter out of a novel — the Brother Man 
 has discovered that William is his only son, who cursed 
 hie father and disowned him when he gave away his pro- 
 perty. They are in there together. T could "Qt keeo the 
 Brother Man out. 
 
^^-.-k^i'': ^^^^^^S3:v i'^"^': 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 179 
 
 Phillip and Sarah stepped to the door of the little room, 
 which was open, and looked in. 
 
 pr.lt^lTw '^'" ^"^ ^""""« «* *he side of the bed 
 
 clasped^'in hi, ;\r" ^^l "^^-•"«. -^th one hand tight- 
 
 eTh s'U"J:f ^^^' "-''^ ^^^ '-^e tears were rolfing 
 
 -S 
 
 ■5, 
 
 
l80 "HE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP Si HONG. 
 
 ! . CHAPTER XI 
 
 When the Lrdther Man had finished his prayer he rose, 
 and, stooping over his son, he kissed him. Then he turned 
 about and faced Phillip and Sarah, who almost felt guilty 
 of intrusion in looking at such a scene. But the Brother 
 Man wore a radiant look. To Phillip's surprise he wa^ 
 not excited. To same ineflfable peace was now added a 
 fathomless joy. , 
 
 " Yes," he said, very simply, " I have found my son 
 which was lost. God is good to me. He is good to all 
 His chilo He is the All-Father. He is Love." 
 
 "Dk enow your son was here ?" Phillip asked. 
 
 "F Mid him here. You have saved his life. That 
 
 was V i; ;? ,!.? 'He would." 
 
 " It w«>> very little we could do," said Phillip, with a 
 sigh. He had seen so much trouble and suffering that day 
 that his soul was sick within him. Yet he welcomed this 
 event to -his house. It seemed a little like the brightness 
 of heaven on earth. 
 
 The sick man was too feeble to talk much. The tears 
 and the hand-clasp with his father told the story of his 
 reconciliation, of the bursting out of the old love^ which 
 had not been extinguished, only smothered for a time. 
 Phillip thought best for the patient that he should not be- 
 come excited with the meeting, und in a little while drew 
 the Brother Man out into the other room. 
 
 By this time it was nearly ten o'clock. The old man 
 stood hesitating in a curious fashion when Phillip asked 
 him to be seated. And as before, he asked if he could find 
 a place to stay over night. > 
 
 IH^^B 
 
 << v».. u.,,.^.,'* «^»^ <./.. t^v^ ».« :» " Uo 
 
 On 
 
 :a 
 
 lul-iAn 
 
 
 B 
 
 Phillip urged his welcome upon him. 
 
 
 
 • m 
 
 ^^gJSlV 
 
 H 
 
 # ■ 
 
 
 
 ». 
 
 
 HB 
 
 .gmsm^mjl^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^■^^^K, 
 
 •^^HBW^BHBI^r" 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
tWfff^ 
 
 .MwtsaiMi MM:mammiimmi,r 
 
 I ■ 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. l8l 
 
 "Oh yes. wc have. We'll fix a place for you some- 
 where. Sit right down, Brother Man." 
 
 sat down. Not a trace of anxiety or hesitati< ained 
 
 The^peacefulness of his demeanor was restful to ..e weary 
 
 "How long has your son." Phillip was going to say. 
 
 offend tri" '^'t'' '''^" '^^ thought It^migh 
 offend the old man. or that possibly he might not wish to 
 talk about It. ^ut he quietly replied : 
 
 " I have not seen him for five years. He was mv 
 yotn^est son. We quarrelled. All that is palt H d"d 
 
 Now Tk ' '° ZV' ^" ^^''^ °"^ »>« '^ *he will ofGod 
 
 fether " Th " « ?'"..'* " "^" "« -'" «° ^^^X to- 
 gether. The Brother Man spread out his oalms in hi. 
 
 favonte gesture, with plentUul content in hi:^";^;" a'^ 
 Phillip was on the point of getting his strange guest 
 
 on » lounge tr^he rII w ""°«"' ' >>«Ping-place 
 
 his so.. Bot it r. to°„„ r"'"'' """O •"■•'' "■'"■ 
 M.n at Phil ip'.r., ' . °.°°" •"■" "« »'<"<■" 
 
 A inonth passed bv aft#r fk. n- ^iT """'""->* "=^7 siowiy. 
 
 .^. .o« at P«,„..r "r^r r;.;,?;- :r 
 
 '•iJfli 
 
IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-S) 
 
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 1.4 11.6 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
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 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. M5S0 
 
 (716)872-4503 
 
 
 
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 <.*V* 
 
 'do 
 
 I/a 
 
l82 f:iB CRUCIFIXtbN OP PHILLIP STEOMO. 
 
 
 
 fi 
 
 Within that month great events crowded in upon the ex- 
 perience of Phillip. To tsll them all would uc lu ^nte 
 another story. Sometimes in men's lives, under certain 
 conditions of society, or of men's own mental and spiritual 
 relation to certain courses of action, time, as reckoned by 
 days or weeks, cuts no figure. A man can live an eternity 
 in an hour. He ^eels it. It was so with Phillip. We have 
 spoken of the rapidity of his thought in deciding questions 
 of right or expediency. The same habit of mind caused a 
 possibility in him of condensed experience. ^In a few days 
 he reached the conclusion of a year's thought That month, 
 while the Brother Man was peacefully watching by the side 
 of the patient, and relieving Mrs. Strong and a neighbor 
 who had helped before he came, Phillip fought some tre- 
 mendous battles with himself, with his thbught of the 
 church, aui with the world around. It is necessary to 
 understand something of this in order to comprehend the 
 meanfng of his last Sunday in Milton— a Sunday that 
 marked an era in the place, |rom which the people almost 
 reckoned time itself. 
 
 As spring had blossomed into summer every one had* 
 predicted better times. But the predictions did not bring 
 them. The suffering and sickness and helplessness of the 
 tenement district grew every day more desperate. To 
 Phillip this district seemed like the ulcer of Milton. All 
 the surface remedies proposed and adopted by the city 
 council and the churches and the benevolent societies had 
 not touched the problem. The mills were going on part 
 time. Thousands of men yet lingered in the place hoping 
 to get work. Even if the mills had been running as usual 
 that would not have diminished by one particle the sin and 
 vice and drunkenness that saturated the place. Aiid as 
 Phillip studied the matter with brain and soul he came to 
 a conclusion regarding the duty of the church. He did not 
 pretend to go beyond that, but as the weeks went by and 
 
 atltMtim ram* nn and at%nt-t%Mm 
 
 
 
 S0^' 
 

 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILUP STRONG. 183 
 
 coldly in the face, PhUlip knew that he must speak out 
 what burned in fiira. " 
 
 He had been a year in Milton now. Every month of 
 that year had impressed PhiUip with the width and ap- 
 parent hopelessness of the chasm that yawned between the 
 woricmg world and the church. There was no point of 
 contact. One was suspicious, the other was indiflFerent. 
 Somethmg was radically wrong, and something radically 
 positive and Christian must be done to right the condition 
 that faced the churches of Milton. That was in Phillip's 
 soul as he went his v^ay like one of the old prophets^ im- 
 bued with the love of God as he saw it in the heart of 
 Christ With infinite longing he yearned to bring the 
 church to a sense of her great power and opportunity So 
 matters had finally drawn to a point in the month of No- 
 vember. The Brother Man had come in -October. The 
 sick man recovered slowly. Phillip and his wife found 
 room for the father and son, and shared with them what 
 comforts they had. It should be said that after moving 
 
 ^'^^ r.^yTT'"^^ '"*° •*" ''°'"« ^ the tenement dis- 
 tnct, Phillip had given more than the extra thousand dol- 
 lars the church insisted on paying him. The demands on 
 him were so urgent, th^' perfect impossibility of providing 
 men with work, and so r^ieving them, had been such a bar 
 to giving help m tjia^ direction, that out of sheer necessity 
 as It seemed to hi.«, Phillip had given fully half of the' 
 thousand dollars which at first he reserved for his own ex! 
 senses. His entire expenses were rediiced to the smallest 
 Possjbk amount Eveything above that went wJ r ™t wa 
 
 that he could not consistently do anything less in view of 
 what he had preached. * •" view ot 
 
 One evening In the middle of the month he was invited 
 to a social gathering at the house of Mr. WlIlV t^? 
 -^.-owncf had of iate been experiencing a revolution' "of 
 
184 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 thought. His attitude toward Phillip had grown more and 
 more friendly. Phillip welcomed the rich man's change of 
 feeling toward him with an honest joy at the thought that 
 the time might come when he would see his privilege and 
 power, and use both to the glory of Christ's kingdom. He 
 had more than once helped Phillip lately with sums.ot 
 money for the relief of destitute cases, and a feeling of 
 mutual confidence was growing up between the men. 
 
 Phillip went to the gathering with tne feeling that a 
 change of surroundings and thought would do him good. 
 Mrs.t^trong, who for some reason was detained at home, 
 urged Phillip to go, thinking the social evening spent in 
 bright and luxurious surroundings would be a rest to him 
 from his incessant labors in the depressing atmosphere of 
 poverty and disease. 
 
 It was a gathering of personal friends of Mr. Winter, 
 including some of the church people. The moment that 
 Phillip stepped into the spacious hall and caught a glimpse 
 of the furnishings of the rooms beyond, the contrast be- 
 tween all tbe -comfort and brightness of this house and the 
 last place h visited in the tenement district smote him 
 
 with a sens*. ^ain. He drove it back, and blamed himself 
 with an inward reproach that he was growing narrow, and 
 could only think of one idea. 
 
 Phillip could not remember just what brought up the 
 subject, but someone during the evening, which was passed 
 in conversation and music, mentioned the rumor going 
 . about of increased disturbance in the lower part of the town, 
 and carelessly wanted to know if the paper did not exag- 
 gerate the facts. Some one turned to Phillip and asked 
 him about it as the best one informed. Phillip had been 
 talking to an intelligent lawyer, who had been reading a 
 popular book, which Phillip had also reviewed for a maga- 
 zine. He was thoroughly enjoying the talk, and for the 
 time being the human problem which had so long wearied 
 his heart and mind was forgotten. 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 185 
 
 He was roused out of this to answer the question con- 
 cerning the real condition of affairs in the lower part of the 
 town. Instantly his mind sprang back to that which ab- 
 sorbed it in reality more than anything else. Before he 
 knew it he had not only answered the particular question, 
 but had gone on to describe the picture of desperate life 
 m the tenement district. The buzz of conversation in the 
 other rooms gradually ceased. The group about the min- 
 ister grew, as others becjime aware that something unusual 
 was gomg on in that particular room. Phillip uncon- 
 sciously grew eloquent, .and his handsome face lighted up 
 with the fires that raged deep in him at the thought of dis- 
 eased and depraved humanity. He did not know just how 
 long he talked. He knew there was a great hush when he 
 had ended. Then before any one could change the stream 
 of thought some young woman in the music-room who 
 had not known what was going on began to sing to a new 
 instrumental variation, "Home. Sweet Home." Coming 
 as It did after Phillip's vivid description of the tenements 
 t seemed like a sob of despair or a mocking hypocrisy. 
 i "illip drew back into one of the smaller rooms and began 
 to look over some art prints on a table. As he stood there 
 again Blaming himself for his impetuous breach of society 
 etiquette ,„ ahnost preaching on such an occasion, Mr 
 Winter came in and said : 
 
 exil't!'J°" T "'T K""'"'^^' *''^* '""'^ ^ «*«*« °^ affairs 
 exists as you describe, Mr. Strong. Are you sure you do 
 not exaggerate : /"u uu 
 
 ■'Exaggerate! Mr. Winter, you have pardoned my 
 
 But- Philhp, choked, and then with an er -r^y that was 
 all the stronger for being repressed, he sal., f'rning Tul 
 
 and look at things for yourself ? I„ the name of Christ 
 
 rlT^r-f."^'"^"^*^'^ '■""'•"^ -<^ -ff-i"« no! 
 ,„an a nine irom inis home of yours ?" 
 
l86 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 Mr. Winter hesitated and then said, " Yes, I'll go. 
 When i" 
 
 " Say to-morrow night. Come down to my house early 
 and we will start from there." 
 
 Mr. Winter agreed, and when Phillip went home he 
 glowed with hope. If once he could get people to know 
 for themselves it seemed to him the fulfilment of his desire 
 for needed co-operation would follow. 
 
 When Mr. Winter came down the next evening, Phillip 
 asked him to come in and wait a few minutes, as he was 
 detained in his study-room by a caller. The mill-owner 
 sat down and chatted with Mrs. Strong a little while. 
 Finally she was called into the other room and Mr. Winter 
 was left alone. The door into the sick man's room was 
 partly open, and the mill-owner could not help hearing the 
 conversation between the Brother Man ar I his son. 
 Something said made Mr, Winter curious, and when Phillip 
 came down he asked him a question concerning his strange 
 boarder. ^ 
 
 "Come in and see him," said Phillip. 
 He brought Mr. Winter into the little room and intro- 
 duced him to the patient. He was able to sit up now. At 
 mention of Mr, Winter's name he flushed and trembled. 
 It then occurred to Phillip for the first time that it was the 
 mill-owrier that his assailant that night had intended to 
 waylay and rob. For a second the minister was very much 
 embarrassed. Then he recovered himself, and after a few 
 quiet words with Brother Man he and Mr. Winter went 
 out of the room to start on their night visit through the 
 tenements. 
 
 As they were going out of the house the patient called 
 Phillip back. Hs went in again and the man said, " Mr. 
 Strong, I wish you would tell Mr. Winter all about it." 
 
 " Would you feel easier ?" Phillip asked gentlv 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 "All right: I'll tell him— don't worry. Brother Mar. 
 
J g**P"^*"'''-"TMir i i v.,. 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 187 
 
 take good care Of him. I shall not be back until late." He 
 k.ssed h.s wife and joined Mr. Winter, and together they 
 made the round 01 the district. 
 
 whet' 'pZL"t f^^ ''^'^"^'^ '^' '=°"'-* ""^ ^y the place 
 «here Ph.H p had been attacked, he told the mill-owner 
 he story It affected him greatly; but as they went on 
 th ough the tenements the sights that met him here wiped 
 out the recollection of anything else 
 
 It was all familiar to Phillip; but it always looked to 
 .m just as ernble. The heartache for humanity was jus^ 
 
 iJr '17 ''."^'' °^ *"^"'"« «"d Injustice as if h s 
 had been ^he first instead of the hundredth time he had eve 
 seen them. But to*the mill-owner the whole thing dme 
 
 L-o^L^:::::^- ^---^--dofsuch^c::^ 
 
 .nvfV ""^ T""^ ^'""^^^ ^'*^ *^"« '■" our Church that know 
 
 two hourl '' "''' '''" '""'^ ""'^ •>"" °"t about 
 
 "I don't know. Very few, I presume." 
 And yet they ought to know about it How else shall 
 all this sm and misery be done away ?" 
 
 rnuiLZ'Z:'; '^^ ^°"^' '° '''"'''''-'' ^^^''-' *He 
 "The law!" Phillip said the two words and th.n 
 
 She do^'^' ''r''-' °^^^ ^ ^"P °^ rXtthtwn t 
 mto the doorway of a miserable structure. " Oh what this 
 
 atL"t;CTht ^"' °^'^"'""^ -^ statute's^ mich 
 as live loving Chnstian men and women who will „iv^ 
 
 have reJheH '" .''°'"" °^ *^'^ ^'"^^'^hed district. We ^ 
 
 tt:srer;l\:=l;y^"rwt:r?^-^-- -•- 
 
 Calvary Church so next Sunday'' ' "" '"'"«^ ^'^ *^" 
 
 tnvf iTlt?-"'. •""'- '''''^ "'•'' ^°- -* o^ the dis- 
 •• -^'^ "--«"K aioog together toward the upper 
 
l88 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 part of the city. The houses kept growing larger and bet- 
 ter. Finally they came up to the avenue where the churches 
 were situated — a broad, clean, well-paved street, with mag- 
 nificent elms and elegant houses on either side, and the 
 seven large, beautiful church Jbuildings, with their spires 
 pointing upward, almost all of them visible from where the 
 two men stood. They paused there a moment. The con- 
 trast, the physical contrast was overwhelming to Phillip, 
 and to the wealthy mill-man coming from the unusual 
 sights of the lower town it must have stood out with a new 
 meaning. 
 
 A door in one of the houses near by opened. A group 
 of people passed in. The 'glimpse caught by the two men 
 was a glimpse of bright, flow»r-decorated rooms, beautiful 
 dresses, glittering jewels, md a table heaped with deli- 
 cacies. It was the P3«".dise of Society, the display of its 
 ease, its soft enjoyment of pretty things, its careless indif- 
 ference to humanity's pain in the lower town. The group 
 of new-comers went in, a strain of music and the echo of 
 a dancing laugh floated out into the street, and then the 
 door closed. 
 
 Mr. Winter and Phillip went on. Phillip had his own 
 reason for accompanying the other home, and Mr. Winter 
 was secretly glad of his presence, for he was timid at night 
 alone in Milton. He broke a long silence by saying : 
 
 " Mr. Strong, if you preach to the people to leave such 
 pleasure as that we have just glanced at to view or suffer 
 such things as we found in the tenements, you must expect 
 opposition. I doubt if they will understand your meaning. 
 I know they wi)' not do any such thing. It is asking too 
 m«ch.." 
 
 "Ar-: yet the Lord Jesus Christ, ^ although He was rich, 
 for uur sakes became poor, that we, through His poverty' 
 might be rich.' Mr. Winter, what this town needs is that 
 kind of Christianity— the kind that will give up the physi- 
 cal pleasures of life to show the love of Christ to nerUWt,.* 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 189 
 
 men. I believe it i3 just as true now as when Christ lived, 
 hat unless they are willing to renounce all that they have 
 they cannot be His disciples." 
 
 " Do you mean literally, Mr. Strong ?" asked the rich 
 man after a little. 
 
 tio J or;J'*"'"'''/°'"**"""- ^ '^^"'^^* »he awful condi- 
 tion of thmgs and souls we have witnessed to-night will 
 
 t": s'^thi t" ""^'^ '"-^' -"^ oi the professing GhH," 
 «»ns m th>s town and m Calvary Church are willinfr to 
 leave, actually to leave their beautiful homes and^ nd the 
 money they now spend in luxuries for the good of the weak 
 and poor and sinful." *^ 
 
 Milil^r'^" '''"' '''"'^ "^"'^ P--'> *hat if He were in 
 
 lUny rnan love houses and money and soc.^y Tnd pow'; 
 
 aLT^S "^^ '^*" ^'' he cannot be My disZl' 
 And then He would test the entire church by -ts win2« 
 to renounce all these physical things And if WW 5 1 
 
 members willing, if He found that the^fove^Hr™ 
 than the money or the ^vr H- 1 u . """ ™°" 
 
 giving up But h11 f •** "''* ***"*"*' » "*"«• 
 
 s«"»t$ up. nut tie Wt 1 .1 say to them 'Tot,- -kx 
 
 nf ■ , '1 '" '°"" '"•» ' ">«««»« that He »o<ild 
 m.,^j, A 1- "s'^ "' ^"e world know about it ? How 
 
 Master ? That is what we need-self, the sonls n( m.„ j 
 
 hei^h°t„?hr;rtt;^Hi°rc'h?i-:xr 
 
 las, co„„a„d to g„ ,„d ™ake disciples „, thf 11?, "" 
 
 Philhp strode throMDrh tK« «J.,».^ .. . "".'°"'' 
 
 ""^ - "p"' a""ost Torgetfui of his 
 
 IM 
 

 190 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 • 
 
 companion. By this time they had reached Mr. Winter's 
 house. Very little was said by the mill-owner. A few brief 
 words of good-night, and Phillip started for home. He 
 went back through the avenue on which the churches 
 stood. When he .reached Calvary Church he went up on 
 the steps and prayed. Great sobs shook him. They were 
 sobs without tears— sobs that were articulate here and there 
 with groans of anguish and desire. He prayed for his 
 loved church, for the wretched beings in the hell of tor- 
 ment, without God and without hope in the world, for the 
 Spirit of Christ to come again into the heart of the church 
 and teach it the meaning and extent of sacrifice. 
 
 When at last he rose and came down the steps it was 
 very late. The night was cold, but he did not feel it. He 
 went home. He was utterly exhausted. He felt that the 
 burden of the place was wearing him out and crushing him 
 into the earth. He wondered if he was beginning to know 
 ever so little what a tremendous invitation that was : 
 " Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and 
 I will give you rest." All! The weary, sinful souls in Mil- 
 ton were more than he could carry. He shrank back from 
 the amazing spectacle of the mighty Burden-Bearer of the 
 sin of all the world, and fell down at His feet and breathed 
 out the words, "My Lord and my God!" before he sank 
 into a heavy sleep. 
 
 When the eventful Sunday came he faced the usual im- 
 mense concourse. He did not come out of the little room 
 until the last moment. When at length he appeared, his 
 face bore marks of tears. At last they had flowed as a re- 
 lief to his soul, and he gave the people his message with a 
 courage and a peace and a love born of direct communion 
 with the Spirit of Truth. 
 
 As he went on, people began to listen in amazement. 
 He had begun by giving them a statement of facts concern- 
 ing the sinful, needy, desperate condition of life in the 
 place. He then rapidly sketched the contrast between the 
 
THE CKUCIFIXION o, PHILLIP STKONO. ,91 
 
 m' h". ;, .T: "" "°'''"""'" """ "« "'-'■ "■- 
 
 A„T,/ ::"'°"' '"" "" "'"■"••"' •»<' "■' '"""-«. 
 ship ^.a,„r„'r;;4:v: m.;:''" "'-""cip,. 
 
 wort and .i„,e .„ ,he sola J„ ^ , J'" ' """"T " ? """ 
 em sociely and of our own cil, Thf ? 'L °' """■- 
 
 »e must «iv. ourselves Th!?' u "" '"" ""^ "h™ 
 
 -ounce,';, „ niTi. * rkTr..""'" -' "■"" 
 
 SO long counted dear th. . ' *^ *'''"«« ^e have 
 
 even, and go down into IT'"' '''' '"''"^^' *"* ''°'"" 
 
 understood here. I do notTi! '^"'^ *° ''* «"»- 
 
 ;» an absurdity. I dt no bet;* Ch;!^ H ^''^"^"'^°" 
 to-day would demand of us Sh thlT ?* "^''^ ''"« 
 believe He would require^„ "^ 'es "^'^ ^"* *!"" ^ ^^o 
 selves in some way that wnTTiT ; ^ ™"''' ^'v* our- 
 and decided ^J's^c^LT u^^^^'^ ^ 
 say to some of you. a" He sa d S^^he """" ^"^ "* ^<>"'<' 
 you have and give io the poor Ind come"?!!"'"' " ^.'^" «" 
 If you were unwilling to do T^. S ' °'' "*• ^"^ 
 be His disciples. The^est o ^! T'5''^ ^°" *=°"'^ "«* 
 as then; the'pHce Inotls^L'T^::^^:':'? "'"^»?^ 
 
 '<P ot it. unn.ce.Mry "Unrie. S, ' """." "" «*''"« 
 
 " — — «ijcirfs on tf»# 
 
/ I 
 
 192 THE CRUCIFIXKiN OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 altar of His service ? Members of Calvary Church, I sol- 
 emnly believe the time has come when it is our duty to 
 go into the tenement district and redeem it by the power 
 of personal sacrifice. Nothing less will answer. To ac- 
 complish this great task, to bring back to God this great 
 part of His kingdom, I believe we ought to spend our time, 
 our money and ourselves. It is a sin for us to live at our 
 pleasant ease, in enjoyment of all good things, while men 
 and women and children by the thousand are dying, body 
 and soul, before our very eyes in need of the blessings of 
 Christian civilization in our power to Share with them. 
 We cannot say it is not oijr business. We cannot excuse 
 ourselves on the plea of business. This is our first busi- 
 ness : to love God and man with all our might. This prob- 
 lem before us calls for all our Christian discipleship. Every 
 heart in this church should cry out this day, " Lord, what 
 wilt Thou have me to do ?" And each soul must follow the 
 commands that honestly he hears. But out of the depths 
 of the black abyss of human want and sin and despair and 
 anguish and rebellion iA this place and over the world 
 rmgs in m)» ear a cry for help that by the grace of God I 
 truly believe «annot be answered by the Church of Christ 
 on earth until the members of that Church are willing in 
 great numbers to give all their money and all their time 
 and all their homes and all their luxuries and all their ac- 
 complishments and all their artistic tastes and all them- 
 selves t* satisfy the needs of the generation as it looks for 
 the heart of the bleeding Christ in the members of the 
 Church of Christ. Yea, truly, except a man is willing to 
 renounce all that he hath, he cannot be His disciple. Does 
 Christ ask any member of Calvary Church to renounce all 
 and go down into the tenement district to live Christ there? 
 I believe He does. Literally ? Yes. ^ 
 
 "Ah, my beloved, if Christ speaks to you to-day. listen 
 and obey. Service! Self! That is what He wants. And if 
 
THll CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 193 
 
 He Mks for «|1, when ail it needed, what then ? Can we 
 smg that hymn with any Christian honesty of heart unless 
 we interpret it literally ?— 
 
 V 
 
 Were the whole realm of nature mine, 
 That were an offering far too small; 
 
 Love so amazing, so divme. 
 Demands my soul, my life, my all!'" 
 
 It would partly describe tht - .feet of this sermon on 
 Calvary Church to state the fact that when Phillip ended 
 and then kneeled down by the side of the desk to pray, the 
 silence was painful, and the intense feeling provoked by his 
 remarkable statements was felt in the appearance of th^ 
 audience as it remained seated after the benediction. But 
 he ultimate eflfect was yet to show itself; it was not visible 
 in the Sunday audience. 
 
 «f Su "*** ^""J ^'''"•P *" unexpectedly summoned out 
 of Milton to the parish of his old college chum. His old 
 fnend was thought to be dying. He had sent for Phillip 
 ^n that supposition. Phillip, whose affection for him was 
 
 m, ?r °; "^ *° ?■* ^''''•' ""^ »*^* ^'^ *'^«' ^'"t at once. 
 His friend was almost go.e. He rallied when Phillip came, 
 
 ^.^Z 'm *"''• ''" "'* «^""« ''"'^ »"d forth be- 
 tween this world and the next. Phillip stayed on and so 
 wa, gone one Sunday from his pulpit In Miho„. Then t : 
 
 .fvrrefu^^^'i hom7°''^' '''''' "^"'^ ''^^ '^ ^"'^ 
 During that ten days' absence serious events had taken 
 place in Calvary Church. Phillip reached home on Wed- 
 nesday. He at once went to the house and greeted his 
 wife and the Brother Man. and William, who was now sit- 
 ting up m the large room. 
 
 Phillip had not been home more than an hour when 
 
 the greatest drowsiness and rfi»:»... . . 1_ 
 
 .«t,ic uvcr mm. He 
 
194 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 had sat up much with his chum, and was entirely worn out. 
 Ke went upstairs to lie down on his couch in his small 
 study. He instantly fell asleep and dreamed that he was 
 standing on the platform of Calvary Church. He thought 
 he said something the people did not like. Suddenly a 
 man in the audience raised a revolver and fired it at him. 
 At once, from all over the house people aimed revolvers 
 at him and began to fire. The noise was terrible, and in the 
 midst of it he awoke to feel to his amazement that his wife 
 was kneeling at the side of the couch, sobbing with a heart- 
 ache that was terrible to him; he was instantly wide awake 
 and her dear head clasped in his arms. And when he prayed 
 her to tell him the matter, s^e sobbed out the news to him 
 which her faithful, loving heart had concealed from him 
 while he was at the bedside of his friend. And eVen when 
 the news of what the church had done in his absence had 
 come to him fully through her broken recital of it, he did 
 not reahze it until she placed in his hands the letter which 
 the congregation had voted to be written, asking him to 
 resign his pastorate of Calvary Church. Even then he 
 fingered the envelope in an absent way, and for an instant 
 his eyes left the bowed form of his wife, and looked out 
 beyond the sheds over to the tenements. Then he opened 
 the letter and read it. 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 195 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Phillip read the letter through without lifting his eyes 
 from the paper or making any comment. It was as 
 follows : 
 
 
 '• Rev. Phillip Strong, 
 
 "Calvary Chur«h, Milton. 
 
 "Dear Sir,-As clerk of the -church I am instructed to 
 inform you of the action of the church at a regularly called 
 meetmg, held last Thursday night. At that meeting it was. 
 voted by a majority present that you be asked to resign the 
 pastorate of Calvary Church for the following reasons : 
 
 I. There is a very wide-spread di; content on the part 
 of the church membership on accoiu.t of the use of the 
 church for Sunday evening discussions of social, political 
 and economic questions, and the introduction into the 
 pulpit of persons whose character.and standing are known 
 to be hostile to the church and its teachings. 
 
 "2. The business men of the church, almost without 
 exception are agreed, and so expressed themselves at the 
 meeting, that the sermon of Sunday before last was exceed 
 ngly dangerous m its tone, and liable to lead to the gravest 
 results in acts of lawlessness and anarchy on the ^art o 
 people who are already inflamed to deeds of violence 
 against property and wealth. Such preaching in the 
 17Z °i;J:,-^-^^^ °f'Pew-owne.s'and supporL'o^ 
 La vary Church, cannot be allowed, or the church will in- 
 ovitably lose its standing in society 
 
 Withdraw from the organi^^tii.; alf s;;;;::^ "^Zft^^ 
 
196 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 present condition of affairs. The trustees announced that 
 the pledges for church support had already fallen off very 
 largely, and last Sunday less than half the regular amount 
 W.S received. This was ascribed to the sermon of the first 
 of the month. 
 
 " 4. The vacation of the parsonage and the removal of 
 the minister into the region of , the tenement district has 
 created an intense feeling on the part of a large number of 
 families, who have for years been firm supporters and 
 friends of the church. They feel that the action was alto- 
 gether uncalled for, and they thijpk that it has been the 
 means of disrupting the church and throwing matters into 
 confusion, besides placingf ^he church in an unfavorable 
 light with the other churches and the community at large. 
 
 "5- It was the opinion pf a majority of the members 
 present that while much of the spirit exhibited by yourself 
 was highly commendable, yet in view of all the facts it 
 would be expedient for the pastoral relation to be severed. 
 The continuance of that relation seemed to promise only 
 added disturbance and increased antagonism In the church. 
 It was the well-nigh unanimous verdict that your plans 
 and methods might succeed to your better satisfaction with 
 a constituency made up of non-church people, and that 
 possibly your own inclinations would lead you to take the 
 step which the church has thought wisest and best for all 
 concerned. 
 
 " It is my painful duty as the clerk of Calvary Church 
 to write thus plainly the action of the church and the 
 specific reasons for that action. A council will be called 
 to review our proceedings and advise with reference to the 
 same. 
 
 " In behalf of the church, 
 
 "Calvin Smith, Clerk." 
 
 Phillip finished the letter and lifted his eyes again. And 
 =xg,....j „, tvvK^u uui LXIXUUS12 tiic winaow across Ihc sheds 
 
tHfi CRUCIFIXION OP PHILLIP STRONG. I97 
 
 to the roofs of the tenements. From where he sat he could 
 aUo see, across the city, up on the rising ground, the spire 
 of Calvary Church. It rose distinct and cold against the 
 gray December sky. The air was clear and frosty, the 
 ground was coverM with snow, and the roofs of the tene- 
 ments showed black and white patches where the thinner 
 now had melted. He was silent so long that his wife be- 
 came frightened. 
 
 abo'lfv "^' r'""^'" '''' "'^'^' « '^' threw fler arms 
 tT\ V^ '"'^ ^''^ ^'^ h«^^ down nearer. "They 
 have broken your heart! They have killed you! There is 
 no love in the worid any morel" 
 
 tha^You'!;!! '' "jed. suddenly. "You must not say 
 tnatl You make me doubt. There is the love of Christ 
 
 SetvT^' f "°"'J'«'^- ^"^' ^^' ^- '^^ C..:rch!-whth 
 He Joved and for which He gave Himself!" 
 
 thing Phni;;."°' ''' ^'""'^ '^^ ^^"^^ ^'^' h- d- this 
 
 Plie7'" Tori's" f."^'""' •■" ^''^ ^-'<^'' h« - 
 from me.'^ ' "'' ^°^ *^'' ^^^ ^^P* »° secret 
 
 "You forget. You were so entirely absorbed in the 
 
 cTo«d doo:f r ''T '^' ^'"^^' -"^^^'"^ -- ^^^^^^^ 
 
 t uth at on.; fT ^"r"""' ^'^ "°* ^"°- the whole 
 truth atonce. I kept it from you as long as I could!" 
 
 "thi. • r™'"'" '^°^' Phillip, very gently and calmly 
 dot "l hotj *" r ' '"f "°^ ^'''"'^ '"^^ church would 
 brieT«o«!J» I ^* ^*°'**' '"** "^'^ ^°'" trembled for a 
 Bnef moment, then grew quiet again, "I hoped I was 
 
 i?: ll VT **'? "°* '^"^ *'''' ^"hng in the church " 
 The^l, ;!^°?A°' '^'^ '''"'^^^ -««'« and was silent 
 Then he asked, "Are they all against me ? " The quTs 
 t,on came with a faint smile that was far more hear 
 
 breaking to his wife than , flnn^ .» * .. ?'* h«art- 
 
 a go5^ --•=• -nc Durst inio 
 
./-:! 
 
 198 THE CftUClflXtOK OP tHlLLIP STRONG. 
 
 " No, you have fn'ends. Mr. Winter fought for you— 
 and others." 
 
 "Mr. Winter!— my old enemy! That was good. And 
 there were others ?" 
 
 " Yes. quite a number. But nearly all the influential 
 members were against you. Phillip, you have been blind 
 to all this." 
 
 " Do you think so ?" Phillip asked simply. " Maybe 
 that is so. I have not thought of people so much as of the 
 work which needed to be done. I have tried to do as my 
 Master would have me. But I have lacked wisdom, or tact, 
 or something." 
 
 "Phillip, it is not that, Do you want to know what 
 I believe ?" His wife fondly stroked the hair back from 
 his forehead, as she sat on the couch by him. '' 
 
 " Yes, little woman, tell me." To Phillip's eyes his wife 
 never seemed so beautiful or dear as now. He knew that 
 they were one in this their hour of trouble. 
 j^ "Wei!, I have learned to believe since you came to 
 Milton that if Jesus Christ were to live on the earth in this 
 century apd become the pastor of almost any large and 
 wealthy or influential church and preach as He would have 
 to, the church would treat him just as Calvary Church has 
 treated you./ The world would crucify Jesus Christ agaia 
 even after two thousand years of historical Christianity." 
 Phillip did not speak. He looked out again toward the 
 tenements. The winter day was drawing to its close. 
 The church spire still stood out sharp against the sky. 
 Fmally he turned to his wife, and with almost a groan he 
 uttered the words: "Sarah, I do not like to believe it. 
 The world is full of the love of Christ. It is not the same 
 world as Calvary saw." 
 
 " No, Phillip. But by what test are nominal Christians 
 and church members tried to-day ? Is not the church in 
 Amwica and England a church in which the scribes and 
 Pharisees, hvoocrites. ar«» 'ncf 
 
 '^ J tteitsijr 
 
 xOuxzu 33 tixcy 
 
tHE CUtJClFiXlON Ot PHILLIP STRONG. I99 
 
 were in the old Jewish church ? And would not that ele- 
 ment crucify Christ again if He spoke as plainly now as 
 then ?" 
 
 Again Phillip looked out of the window. His whole 
 nature was shaken to its foundation. Repeatedly he drove 
 back the thought of the church's possible action in face of 
 the Christ of this century. As often it returned, and his 
 soul cried out in anguish at the suggestion of the truth 
 Even with the letter of Calvary Church before hinvhe was 
 slow to believe that the Church as a whole or in a ma- 
 jority of cases would rejeot the Master. 
 
 " I have made mistakes. I have been lacking in tact 
 I have needlessly offended the people," he said to his wife, 
 yieldmg almost for the first time to a great fear and dis- 
 trust of himself. For the letter asking his resignation had 
 Shaken him as once he thought impossible. " I have tried 
 to preach and act as Christ would; but I have failed to 
 interpret Him aright. Is it not so, Sarah ?" 
 
 His wife was reluctant to speak. But her true heart 
 made rnswer: " No. Phillip, you have interpreted Him too 
 faithfully. You may have made mistakes; all ministers 
 do; but I hopestly believe you have preached as Christ * 
 would agamst the great selfishness and hypocrisy of the 
 century. The same thing would have happened to Him." 
 They talked a little longer, and then Phillip said : 
 Let us go down and talk to the Brother Man. Some- 
 how I feel inclined to talk with him." 
 
 So they went downstairs and into the room where the 
 in/ahd was sitting with the old man. William was able 
 ti walk about now, and had been saying that he wanted to 
 hear Phillip preach as soon as he could get to' the church. 
 Well, Brother Man," said Phillip, with something like 
 his o d heartiness of manner, "have you heard the news ? 
 Othello s occupation's gone." 
 
 '^^^ Brother Man seemed to know all ahmit it 
 
 Whetner he had heard of it through some of the church 
 
 i^ 
 
200 THE CRUCIFIXION OP tHlLLtP STROMCJ. 
 
 people or not, Mr. Strong did not know. -The old man 
 looked at Phillip calmly. There was loving sympathy in 
 his voice, but no trace of compassion or wonder. Evidently 
 he had not been talking 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 ?" Phillip remembered 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 the wish of the whole church ?" 
 " No, there are some w^o want me to stay." 
 " How do you feel about it ?" The Brother Man put 
 the question almost timidly. Phillip 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. 
 He did not seem disturbed in the least. His demeanor was 
 th. most perfect expression of peace that Phillip ever saw. 
 
 " We shall have to leave Milton, Brother Man," said 
 ^Phillip, thinking that possibly he did not understand the 
 meaning of the resignation. 
 
 "Yes, we will go away together. Together." The 
 Brother Man looked at his son and smiled. 
 
 " Mr. Strong," said William, " we cannot be a burden 
 on you another day. I am able to get out now, and I will 
 find work somewhere and provide for my father and my- 
 self. It is terrible to me to think of how long we have 
 been living on your slender means." And William gave 
 Phillip a look of gratitude and love that made Phillip's 
 heart warm again. 
 
 " My brother, we will see to that all right. You have 
 been more than welcome. Just what I will do. T Hn„v 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 20I 
 
 know, but I am sure the way will be made clear in time, 
 aren't you, Brother Man ?" 
 
 " Yes, the road to heaven is always clear," he said, 
 almost singing the words. 
 
 " We shall have to leave this house. Brother Man," said 
 Sarah, feeling with Phillip that he did not grasp the mean- 
 ing of the event. 
 
 "Yes, in the Father's house are many mansions," re- 
 plied the Brother Man. Then as Phillip and his wife 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 Phillip had ever heard. It seemed to him that 
 however the old man's mind might be afJected, the part of 
 h.m that touched God in the communion of audible prayer 
 was absolutely free from any weakness or disease. It was 
 a prayer that laid its healing balm on the soui of Phillip 
 and soothed his trouble into peace. When the old man 
 finished, Phillip felt almost cheerful again. He went out 
 and helped his wife a few minutes in some work about the 
 kitchen. And after supper he was just 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 telegram. Phillip opened 
 It almost mechanically and carrying it to the light read : 
 'Alfred died four p.m. Can you come ?" 
 
 For a second Phillip did not realize he news. Then as 
 . rushed upon him, he stagger i and would have fallen if 
 th- table had not been so close. A faintness 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 kitchen. She came in at once, noticing the 
 peculiar tone of his voice. 
 
 "Alfred is dead!" He was sayinjf the words q«ip.l„ ,. 
 he held out the telegram. 
 
202 
 
 tHB CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 And you left him getting better! 
 
 How 
 
 " Dead I 
 dreadful 1" 
 
 " Do you think so ? He is at rest. I must go up there 
 at once; they expect me." He still spoke quietly, stilling 
 the tumult of his heart's anguish 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 preparations to go back to 
 h.s fnends home. It is what either would have done in 
 the event of the other's death. And so he was gone from 
 MUton until after the funeral, and did not re'urn untU 
 
 sttL T " ''r '''"' ""''' ^' ^b""<=« Milton wa 
 stirred by events that grew out of the action of the church. 
 In the first place the "hiinority in the church held a 
 
 their hearty support in all his plans and mtthods. The 
 paper, ,„ .ts report of this meeting, made the most of the 
 personal remarks that were made, and served up the whole 
 
 fHn'l^uor "" ''"'" ''-' -' -->^ -<^ 'y -- 
 
 was^ttt* of Ty,T 'r^'''"'.^'*^'""*^ °^ ^'''"•P'^ f"«nds 
 
 Tad In J ^ '""'"• ^^'^ "'^^ »" '^' J'*" «^here he 
 
 had so often spoken, and being crowded out of that by the 
 great numbers, they secured the use of the court house 
 
 coJrse'':;v:r'^' ^f ^" ^^^^^ ^^^^"^^^^^ -<^ ^^^ 
 
 course of very many short speeches, in which the action of 
 the church was severely condemned, a resolution was 
 offered and adopted asking Phillip to remain in Milton and 
 organize an association or something of a similar order for 
 the purpose of sociologfcal study and agitation, pledging 
 whatever financial support could be obtained from the 
 
 hvllt r'^ ' '^^ *°^" ^'^ ^"" ^°"^«<J to excitement 
 
 by all these reports when Phillip returned home late Sat 
 urday afternoon, almost reeling with exhaustion, and 1 is 
 heart torn with the separation from his old chum 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 203 
 
 However, he tried to conceal his weariness from Sarah 
 and partly succeeded. After supper he went up to his' 
 study to prepare for the Sunday. He had fully rthde up 
 , h.s mmd as to what he would do, and he wanted to do it 
 .n a manner that would cast no reproach on his profession, 
 which he sincerely respected. 
 
 He shut the door and began his preparation by walking 
 up and down, as his custom was. thinking out the details 
 of the service, his sermon, the exact wording of certain 
 phrases he wished to make. 
 
 tin,!!' ^f ^r. ""'""""^ '^"' ^^'^ ^"*^ ^°"h half a dozen 
 .mes when he felt the same acute pain in his side that had 
 eized him when he fainted in church at the evening service 
 
 It passed away, and he resumed his walk, thinking it was 
 
 b h«' '77 fr'"'- ^"* ''^f°^^ ''<' -«'d turn g" n 
 n his walk he felt a dizziness that whiried everything in 
 
 ctroTh "' ''T- ""' ^'"^^"^^^ «* * ^^-' and was con 
 scious of having massed it. and then he fell forward in such 
 
 orandV' '" '"'^ °" ^'^ ^°"^^ ^"<^ P-^'3^ -the 
 noor, and became unconscious. 
 
 How long he had been in this condition he did not 
 know when he qame to himself. He was thankful, when 
 he dul recover sufficiently to crawl to his feet and si down 
 
 to Jl^ ' 'I"' ^"'^ '^' "°^ ^=^" ^'™- «« "managed 
 
 he 11 7r ' ^"'^' '"'^ ^'^''' *° ^'■•'te something as 
 
 ceive h>r ^fZ""^ T'"''- "^ '^•^ "°* •"*«"d to de- 
 ceive her. His thought was that he would not unneces- 
 
 urging to ifersuade him to get to bed. And so, without 
 saying anything about his second fainting attack. hT wen 
 downstairs and was soon sleeping very heavily 
 
 and rIfreXd °"^""^^^ »"-«-« Reeling strangely calm 
 and refreshed. The mommg prayer with the Brother Man 
 
 or Phim; ^''"-'•'^-V- them all. Sarah, who had fear 3 
 for Phillip, owing to the severe strain he harf h.« .„^.., 
 ^ng. felt relieved as she saw how he appearedV'They aU 
 
204 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 prepared to go to church, the Brother Man and William 
 going out for the first time since the attack on Phillip. 
 
 We«have mentioned Phillip's custom of coming into his 
 pulpit from the little room at the side of the platform. This 
 morning he went in at the side door of the church after 
 partmg with Sarah and the others. He let Brother Man 
 and William go on ahead a little, and then drawing his wife 
 to hjm he stooped and kissed her. He turned at the top 
 of ihc short flight of steps leading 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 rfiany people in Calvary Church 
 betore. Men sat on the platform, and even in the deep 
 wmdow-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 audience. More 
 than one member was ashamed at the action which had 
 been taken, and might have wished it recalled. With the 
 TluT^" °^ workingmen and young people in the 
 church there was only one feeling : it was a feeling of love 
 for Phillip and of sorrow for what had been done. The 
 tact that Phillip had been away from the city, that he had 
 not talked over the matter with any one. owing to his ab- 
 sence, the uncertainty as to how he would receive the whole 
 
 letter' hLk "°"''' '"^ °" '^'' ^"' Sunday after thc^ 
 let er had been wntten-this attracted a certain number of 
 persons ^ho never go inside a church except for some ex- 
 t aordinary occasion, or in hopes of a sensation. So the 
 audience that memorable day had some cruel people pre- 
 «n «K "Jo ''\"'"°^'y v^^tch the faces of mourners at 
 tZce ''""^'^ ^"'' '^^ ""^^^ °" *"« «=«""- 
 
 The organist played his prelude through and 
 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 205 
 
 that Ph.ll.p had not yet appeared. He began again at a 
 certam measure, repeating it. and played very slowly. By 
 th.s time the church was entirely filled. There was an air 
 
 PhmolT ?'''"^ "' ''* °''«'" ^«^'" ««"d, and still 
 Ph.ll.p J.d 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 opened and 
 i'nilhp came out. 
 
 Whatever his struggle had been in that little room the 
 
 closest observer could not detect any trace of tears or sor- 
 
 row or shame or humiliation. He was pale, but that was 
 
 common; otherwise his face wore a fir^, noble. .LZul 
 
 00k As he gazed over the congregation the people felt 
 
 PokeTn'T" ° '" "'^""^- ^^^ '''' --'^ 'hat he 
 spoke m the serv.ce were strong and clear. Never had the 
 
 people seen so much to admire in his appearance as a 
 
 t'h?;eVul" ; "1 "'^"' ^^^" ''' opening 'exercis s and 
 
 L fl 7^^ °' "•■"'"• ^' ^^^^ «"d "HI. out on one 
 
 s.de of the desk to speak, as his custom was, the p"ople 
 
 were for the time under the magic sway of hi personam^ 
 
 He began to speak very quietly and simply as his 
 
 rltT hTs" '"r°""^'"? ''' ''''' ''^' '^ ''^^ been'ask dt 
 res gn h.s pastorate of Calvary Church. He made the 
 
 2T71 '"'^' "''' "° ''^'*'"« o^ hesitation" senti 
 ment of tone or gesture. Then after saying that there was 
 
 went r to'sraV''^". f '™ ""^^^ ^'^^ ciLmstancTs h 
 and h°s teach';, '" ' °' "' '"*"^-*«^'- ^^ Christ 
 
 " Members of Calvary Church, I call you to bear wit 
 ness to-day: I have tried to preach to you Christ and ffi^' 
 cr.c.fied. I have, doubtless, made mfftakes; we a"? mle 
 tliem. I have oflFended the rich men and the lZ,l 
 u^v-ncrs la Muton. I could not help it; I was obHgVd 'to 
 
^T»f^ 
 
 206 THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 do so in order to speak as I this moment solemnly believe 
 my Lord would speak. I have aroused oppositiou because 
 I asked men into the church and upon th-'s p' iriorm who 
 do not call themselves Christians, for th<> r urpojif: o» know- 
 ing their reasons for antagonism to tU c.mrch we love 
 Byt the time has come. O my brothe.., x/, n the Church 
 must welcome to its cours'els, in -natters that affect the 
 world's greatest good, all mr> ■ o have at heart the ful- 
 filment of the Christ's teachings. 
 
 " But the cause which more than any other has led to 
 tlie action of -this church has been, I am fully aware, my 
 demand that the church members of this city should leave 
 the r possessions and go and live with the poor, wretched 
 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 defence of my action or my 
 preaching ?" ' 
 
 Suddenly Phillip seemed to feel a revulsion of attitude 
 toward the whole of what he had been saying. It was as 
 ■f there had mstantly swept over him the knowledge that 
 he could never make the people before him understand his 
 motive or h.s Christ. His speech had so far been quiet, 
 ummpass.oned deliberate. His whole manner now under- 
 
 than 1; '"""^ ^"V''" °'" '^' Sallery-railing. and more 
 than one closed ^ns hands tight in emotion at the sight and 
 hearing of the tall, fiery figure on the platform. 
 
 For the intense love for the people that Phillip felt had 
 surged ,ntc ,• . . .ncr ..troUably. It swept ,ay all other 
 thmgs^ H. .0 '- :■ r soughf n justify his way,; he 
 seemed be: ,^^ ,g ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^.^^^ j^^^ ^^ ^^,^^ 
 
 for them and the world. His lip trembled, his voice shook 
 
 a^L^A ''T;"^ ?^ ^'' '°"' ^^'^ '^' P'^^P^'^' *"d his frame 
 quivered with longing. 
 
 m.17"'" l'^?'*'' "I 'ove you, people 0! Milton, beloved 
 members of this church. I would have opened my arms 
 
THE CKUCimiON OF PHILLIP SIKOHC. »; 
 
 oh, r. would »oTy,Z°J^1T7'' '■'"■"' »'" 
 
 wijhed ui lo eiiinv nt „.. ^ . ' ""* ">"«'' ^e 
 
 -Vic. ,.„••; 'sr; -. :: :rafH<>"^;'^ " -' "-- - 
 
 cros. had been the .o«r^. 7 . ' ^**'" "°*'»- Tins 
 the church m::trs:.° tn '•'""" ''"°"« 
 
 «"d it wa, in keeping wTh'hJ "'^ 'Ti^"<^ ^^''^^^ 
 had a right place in Liu u ""* °' ^''^ *^hurch. and 
 
 -ent. On . th, Zt^'h^f ^^ ^ '"' °' "' '""'^ ^^-"- 
 that the Church had voted ,. f^r " 'T ^"' ""°- 
 on the wall. A .maH «,?« I u '■""°'^*' ^^ '■«t"«°n 
 and there it rerne . " r^ J pt T' t ^"^^ '* *^^-' 
 of thin wood, and .tood out vJrv 1' ""''*' ^^^ '^ P^"*' 
 "■ear of the platform T* ^ onspicuous above the 
 
 but several tf .rone .id" "' " ^^"^ "'^"'"^ ^"^ <^"^. 
 Phillip had never made any alius. .« .•« w 
 
 might ha»« been hi. trtnm,. -T" "o"'>«*"y- n 
 "om „^j„„, HW chCr^S""""'- ■"■' ""'■"•"" 
 But now he stepped back>-iv «,.l „ , 
 
 n9r*l» J . ; "^ i»«CK— -K was no far— anH ♦..—• 
 
 .- n.unna, wiJIi one ioBff arm '.1^ j . — '"»s 
 
 long arm extended toward the 
 
ifoS THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 cross as if iii imagination he saw the Christ upon it, he 
 cried out, " ' Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the 
 si 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 tremendous second of time he stood there with 
 the whole church smitten into a pitying, horrifiea, startled, 
 motionless crowd of blanched staring faces; as his tall, 
 dark figure towered up with outstretched arms, almost 
 covering the very outlines of the cross, and then he sank 
 down at its^^ioot. 
 
 A groan went up from the audience. Several men 
 sprang up the platform steps. Mrs. Strong was the first 
 person to reach the figure of her husband. Two or three 
 helped to bear him to the front of 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 the other side. 
 "No," he said with an indescribable gesture and an un- 
 translatable inflection, " he is not dead. He 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 Phillip was dead. And the 
 Brother Man was right also. For Phillip himself was alive 
 »n glory, and when 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 
 
. THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG.*" 209 
 
 They said that when the funeral of Phillip Strong's body 
 was held m Milton, rugged, unfeeling men were seen to 
 cry hke 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 fnends. and William and the Brother Man. They 
 stood looking down into the grave. 
 
 a cZn.r!/."'' ''°""^ *° *^'*'" ** '*^* Sarah said, with 
 a calmness that was more terrible than bursts of grief. 
 So was Christ." replied Brother Man, simply. 
 " But oh, Phillip, Phillip, my beloved, they killed him I" 
 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 beginning to bud and 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- 
 
 hZ^A u-"""^ ""''^ ^'^ ''"* '■" •'■^ '^^"d and his head 
 
 ston. t!!' ^y'^^'-^^*'"^ °" '^^ ^^ords carved into the 
 stone. They were these : 
 
 PHILLIP STRONG. 
 Pastor of Calvary Church, MitroN. 
 "In the cross of Christ I glory, 
 Towering o'er the wrecks of 'time; 
 
 All *U^ i:~Ui -e . ' 
 
 ,r,^ ,,g„^ jjj sacrea slory 
 
 Gathers round—" 
 
2ld THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 Mr Winter looked at the incomplete line, and then, as 
 he turned away and walked slowly back down into Milton 
 he said, " Yes, it is better so. We must complfste it for 
 him." 
 
 Ah, Phillipl Strong! Thy 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 Christ^ias of his lowly birth, 
 Contains the selfish Scdbe .;nd Pharisee. 
 O Christ of God, exchan^nng gain for loss, 
 Would men still nail thee to the self-same 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! 
 
 THE END. 
 
hen, as 
 Milton 
 i it for 
 
 1 vain! 
 
 BY OHABLfiS M. SHELDON. 
 
 s? 
 
 IN HIS STEPS 
 
 What Would Jesas Do? 
 
 niUBtrated. ^ 
 
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 ftT.nU^H^^^n''^,.^'^ fi*"Ii ^■^^ thought Of Which ic the 
 ??£ll*^*?^. t? *i' i'** *>' **>e test question, "What Would 
 ft^*™ 2? ^ZJ}S^ **^ *" extraordinary gale. In the guise of a 
 story, the book makes a powerful appeal to the public con- 
 science In the llnesin which interestls now so deeply aroused 
 \U., the social Asonditions affecting the relations of employer 
 and employee, rich and poor, the Christian and the world. 
 
 f />'•! -^1 Intensely Interesting story, showing how the religion 
 of Christ can be carried into every vocation of life. It is im- 
 posst We to read It without having a keen desire to live nearer 
 our ideal life." 
 
 The Sunday Chronicle says : " ' In His Steps ' may claim 
 to be in religious circles the book tt the hour. We ^"ar of 
 ministers making it the text of sympathetic sermons, and 
 whole congregations being supplied with copies." 
 
 "I have read it 
 Dean Itiirar. 
 
 ,,. ."J.* ^»,9"e 9^ tlje most powerful indictments of modem 
 Christian life that has been produced within laeent years. 
 But It is more than an indictment. It is a persuasion to 
 further and fuller imitation of Jesus. No one can read it 
 without reahzin^ how far we are behind the great Example. 
 Few wih read it without being flred with the resolve to walk 
 in His steps. "-Jfei'. J. Clifford, U.A., D.D. 
 
 " This is a sincere and earnest attempt to press home in 
 story form the question ' What Would Jesus do V ' It will be 
 impossible for the avenwe Christian professor to peruse it 
 without deep searching or heart, and the good it is capable 
 of producing is passed gupssing."— rAe Methodixt Timet. 
 
 with great Interest and approval."— 
 
 Toronto: THE POOLE PUBLISHING COMPANY. 
 
BY OHAELES M. SHELDON. 
 
 Overcoming The World, 
 
 The S|ory. of Malcom Kirk. 
 
 nixistrated. 
 
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 bodies every e\emeiko{c-\m^^u^^\{^^'^^^^- «"" 
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 noblest typ^ of heroltm^ •? tL*"** '°^''«* *» ^^e of the 
 treated from a new^taSinninf f..^r*°t K'""! question is 
 
 Kirk, ani the C;:een^l2Llr^m^\«^'Sol^*^ 
 ment." *''''"'"^ ^^^ ol^nsecrated labor in a frontier settle- 
 
 flrst'to lMt!"a.KlunTMil^t?^ '"^rest from 
 
 pioblems of the day," * "»telllgently with many of the social 
 
 tow;.'"he*i^"l^'?S;?;!a';«i^^»l«l^^^^^ in a Western 
 
 Outlook. i^'^i-y. lawlessness, and rum reigned."— ta* 
 
 out 'inSKf a ttfiJi M'-'Si'"',^ ?«?'« ^^"h the setU,* 
 
 way'ihe WalsSS' /SiS oTa^^^^iJ*'**^ '" "» interesting 
 has succeeded in dmwfpK Ma,c^m ^i?*"^""- TheauthSr 
 ample of moral heroism •^A^^^^^^V^*'* * striking ex- 
 
 Toronto: THE POOLE PUBLISHINQ COMPANY. 
 
BY OHABLBS M. SHBLDON. 
 
 His Brother's Keeper; 
 
 Christian Stewardsliip. 
 
 Illustrated. 
 
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 A grand solution of the labor question of the day. Of 
 ^^JT principal characters of the book, one belongs to 
 capital, uaA the other to labor, yet they were friends. The 
 ?AL*."y 8*iows how it was 'possible for this friendship 
 to exist, In spite of the gulf between them." '=""»'"»' 
 
 "It puts clearly and cogently the subject of the duty of 
 *"^?J!^'*? ^^® means, to those who have not, to employers 
 and benefactors to employees and beneficiaries, and again of 
 the latter to the former, in the light which shines from the 
 Cross of CMst. The story is full of Interest from cover to 
 cover."— 2%« EvangdUt. 
 
 tJ^u^ ^l^'y^*^" written, intensely interesting, and should 
 incline the hearts of readers to take a wider view of this great 
 problem.— The Episcopal Secorder. 
 
 ^SJ^^l*^^^^ written with true sympathy, and a desireto 
 bridge the chasm between employer and employee."— rfte 
 Outlook. 
 
 " Presents to view several strong characters, and deals 
 a heavy blow against merely selfish solutions of the problems 
 involved in the labor question."— A'ew York Observer. 
 
 "Besides being interesting, the book is Instructive, and It 
 ably deals with one of the greatest problems of the iay "— 
 Vancouver World. ' 
 
 "It is a powerfully written book."-nrforta (B.C.) Times. 
 
 " ■'V.SJFr'n? narrative on the great theme of Christian 
 responrbillty.'^ 
 
 Toronto: THE POOLE PUBLISHING COMPANY. 
 
BY CHARLES M. SHBIiOON. 
 
 THE CRUCIFIXION 
 OF PHILLIP STRONG. 
 
 niiistrated. 
 
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 " A powerful story of self-abnegatiou and Its fruits." 
 
 thec;^Jl!S»t|j?^Vf&a|e"Vh^^^^^^^ 
 
 the thoughts sublime. Sveryone should r^ it?' ' ^ ' 
 
 »lwaJ!?Sn&n»°"^<^*'i^?*'' sometimes dramatic, and 
 Btrnnff»^<S, ♦?*'''^- v^* *^ wholesome reading to all, and In- 
 sta-uctlre to those who are led to wroniriY believe that th» 
 church and Its pastors do not make Mc^ces for an,ia» n^? 
 
 ^„^"<?° wP'^^^t nevertheless no Christian worker ram 
 
 men."— The Standard. 
 
 1 of needy men and wo- 
 
 In one" %h^ t5?!)S"f?*'„* ^'f^ *. ^^on.m», and a story all 
 liin '■"^ ^^'y 's one of intense vigour and nathos It 
 ^™Lf°"'^ " "^^^^ reading, and it should makenm>'lm* 
 ^^TZm^^:'"''"^''' "''^ P™^"*^ lasting^^^f-?!'^ 
 
 " It is a tragic tale showing how a noble man who m 
 ^e-^S^^!?.IS^iS£'J•|^i^''''-. -o^pp^^alT.- 
 
 Toronto: THE POOLE PUBUSHINQ COMPANY. 
 
BY OHABLES M. SHELDON. 
 
 ROBERT HARDY'S 
 SEVEN DAYS. 
 
 Illustrated. 
 
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 ChlkZnW^k^^''"^ ^'''' ^''^ » *"°8 it ta to Ih^'t^ 
 
 well-conceived and powerfullT-written stnrv 
 1 arouse lethanrin PhiTanJ.,. -^y^!?^..*59'7t 
 
 'It ig 
 
 " A sure energiger of vigorous Christian beneficence." 
 
 Toronto: THE POOLE PUBLISHING COMPANY. 
 
 »c-,-S 
 
BY OHABLBS M. SHELDON. 
 
 RICHARD BRUCE; 
 
 or, THE LIFE THAT NOW IS. 
 
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 i=*^l^*'?J^''*^'""o^ Poetical and Scriptural truth and 
 ib^ f^the 1 ?.te n^J?L^°' presenting tie gSsiKK 
 ft?i t:^ tne life that now Is, and making one happy and use- 
 Kd^and-FV^^^*- "'«iPn««cSf.andina°ng/?!: 
 
 "The tone Is so high, the teaching so pure and'eood that 
 fif if ^^'^ P^*5« '".t^ie Sunday sShoof librar^ li?d a wr- 
 'jsal by readers of good Christian literature. "-T^e^eWoVf 
 
 h™"J1S«^'7 powerful, practical, touching Christian narra- 
 Ul®;.^***^^^ ,*° *^^« ^^^r and engrossing to the reader 
 S,i^^P^* •;?*' ^J^^ as a dellneatOT of character? sUll In 
 i'S'i'f^*^? *^^%JP? wisdom m describing a natvS manly 
 and Inviting Christianity. "_2%« OmgregOimaJ^t' ^' 
 
 "The story Is full of dash, ejctremely dramatic and oulto 
 pS.^V^ffl'" **«^"'^°«' evIngellZr^dTniS 
 
 Toronto: THE POOLE PUBLISHINQ COMPANY. 
 
BY OHARLBB M. SHELDON. 
 
 The Twentieth Door. 
 
 niustrated. 
 
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 SStofntd CSout."" " •'^^^^^^r written, and Interest 
 thetettethcffiir!^' ^*'*' consecration on the eve of 
 
 Toronto: THB POOLE PUBUSHINQ COMPANY. 
 
,-».■■■ " ■■ / 
 
 BY OHABLBB xd. SHBLDON, 
 
 THE REDEMPTION 
 OF FREETOWN. 
 
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 />kJ'J''^!***'L°'**'*'^*»°^'"o'»s 1° hundreds of cities In 
 
 f h-*" ^!^ Re^emptUm of Freetown Is a story of social conditions 
 I!i?*i?;^"?"y^® w'"** ^° ™*"y •='"68- " tells how degraded 
 neighborhoods have been uplifted and blessed by the Social 
 Settlemente. It is a most interesting booK." - Canadian 
 Jipwona Era. 
 
 ia .^'H'll'^i®'"®^^ '"'f?,^""^ story of social settlement life 
 
 i*„l?f ^**™P***'",°' Freetown,' by the author of 'In His 
 
 L rw^/^I^^'kI*'",^' ^^^ PTosperonstown of Merton, known 
 
 rit***^°' "^ become the refuge of every kind of crime 
 
 Sf,/* *'^®'"' »"""i **•« "»«'*' •«'« ^«*1 life of the S 
 Itself Is threatened by the CTistence of this miasma Th« 
 
 Si n**"^^?*'' ''' •'"^.»* ^«™«n'« ««»■ presumably at the 
 a^^ ° Freetown roughs, rouses the citizens to the point of 
 w?»P;^ iJ^^r "' ^^f^ settlement life, outlined by Rev 
 Hfward Douglass, meets with unexpected • favor and he 
 w^k*"%h^/ 1«^'°/, "«» »"<! women S Merto^ea^e8tly at 
 work. The concluding chapter shows the town fifteen veare 
 later when Freetown has been transformed fr?m a hot'^ ted 
 wrt^i^""'' *"V,f° "I'^'y community. The story te%rell 
 ^h^ii®?' ^■'Peclally so In the tactful fnfroduction ol new 
 
 ?^e^\^..t!!|^",i»P^a"r.''*^ pn>mlnentlyttr: 
 
 Toronto: THE POOLE PUBLISHING COMPANY. 
 
FOR 
 TROUBLED HEARTS 
 
 BY 
 
 CHARLES AUBREY EATON, M.A. 
 
 Minister cf Bloor Street Baptist Church, Toronto. 
 
 Cloth, 50 Cents. 
 
 " For Troubled Hearts " contains very much that will bring com- 
 fort to those that are in trouble, ^ut in addition to that It contains very 
 many s«!d thought which will be of great service to Christian workers. 
 There is also much in the book which ought to cause the unsaved to 
 think upon their ways, and turn their feet toward the Way of Life. 
 Those of us who know the author and know something of his ability as a 
 writer would expect just such a book from his pen.-JJw. Wm. JPcUUrxm 
 
 Toronto: THE POOLE PUBUSHINQ COMPANY. 
 
THE FAIRY SCHOOL OF 
 CASTLE F«^NK. 
 
 By GRANT B..LFOUR. 
 
 FIVE FULL- PAGE ILLU STRATIONS. 
 
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 1 have read thia little story JLy Grant Balfour which I ™n «!,»», 
 Sj^ToS^l^ '""^ '*»*'-" '' Ontari5iS.t'^^. i^r^S 
 I am 8ur« children will lik it.~Lady MarjorU Gordon. 
 
 A nall^!^^ " ""'^^ ^ '»"*'® *° '«^'*"'*'° *« O" «l»ool libraries.- 
 
 amonJsT^KlU^'n".'' " '^ """^^^ °' » '-^ P">-in«nt place 
 
 n„., J**® present volume, in addition to its merits as a literarv nnvni^ 
 that rn™«nT^ ^°»f ^ '"/^f^** ' *« "^'•e «' ""c Chiefs^ S'lSd in 
 
 napirsKKo'^^htl^^^^^ 
 
 to the love of animals-the fundamental of loveof man ^^^ri "*''*" 
 tion of honest toil as the surest^S of suc^^ anl t^ou??.Z'^f r 
 deception aijd tricltery as the most uncertoin wpwrts ^ Hf^ T» u 
 especially interesting and cannot fail to be proflSK the vounir an,? 
 adults will not easily lay it aside till read to the S.~D^ pS'. 
 And so this story, warp and woof 
 Is woven by a master hand, ' 
 -^noevery thread will stand the proof 
 Which wisdom, truth, and love demand. 
 
 —JPoet Allen, 
 
 Toronto: THE POOLE PUBLISHINQ COMPANY. 
 
The Mother of St. Nicholas 
 
 (SANTA XLAUS) 
 
 By GRANT BALFOUR. 
 
 WITH FRONTISPIECE ILLUSTRATION. 
 
 Cloth, 35 Cents. 
 
 A Charming story .-««. PHndpal Gkixnt. 
 
 treated;-^' ZaU^'m.""'*' "^"^ ^'^ ""'"^-"^'^ "''J~^ '" '^^'^ 
 
 our n«TuSri!lm"hi^^*.'^.'7K *^'i' '^''!'*. 'PP*"'''' ^ *e nobler feelings o/ 
 ntoraatlSn?^" CA ^'^ ^^"«">'*'y Interesting narrative and historic 
 
 iw.^1, 15?^ '■*~* " carefally, and It Is a long time since I have had a 
 Jwok that gave me so much pleasure and profit . . . I have put it in 
 
 fully!^jrn.tt. ^^' "*" "°'' ' '*'"" •"•* reSd^mSst^e- 
 
 Th« vJL!l*I2 "T^ *"* ^"^ Sf"^* pleasure "The Mother of St. Nicholas '• 
 ^^att^andTSi^urtfrg''? "' ""^ ^Z"'^ and beauty. There is sSffldent 
 «.«Ii^„S!lu a9*^^^: *"..'* *°"' ■ wo'k several tlbijs its size. It is a fine 
 moral clothed in attraoUve garb.-C. W. Chadwtck, Public School I^Si^. 
 
 «,„— ^^® interest did not flag from beginning to end, and the charactera 
 were so Inslduouslv Introduced thatdne actually felt one's seMt^llv^ 
 and be a partaker fn the action of the talel-^Dr. 1. j!A, MA 
 
 Toronto: THB POOLE PUBLISHING COMPANY. 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 DWIGHT L MOODY, 
 
 With 33 Illustrated Pages. 
 
 rHmTYTHBEE 
 
 NXOSTRMQON} 
 
 M POOtt 
 ■'UBUSHMKOftMNyJ 
 TOBONTO I 
 
 Paper, 25 Cents. Cloth, 50 Cents. 
 
 Toronto: THE POOLE PUBUSHINO COMPANV 
 
•t 
 
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