black man
has for several weeks out of his small earnings helped the son of his
mother's master and cared for him through his illness with all the
devotion of a friend.

"I have only lately learned these facts. But, knowing them as I do, and
believing that he is as worthy to sit about this table as any Christian
here, I cannot reconcile the rejection with my own purpose to unite
here. I therefore desire to withdraw my application for membership here.
Mr. Strong, I desire to be baptized and partake of the communion as a
disciple of Christ, simply, not as a member of Calvary Church. Can I do
so?"

Philip replied in a choking voice: "You can." The man sat down. It was
not the place for any demonstration, but again from the gallery came a
slight but distinct note of applause. As before, it instantly subsided
as Philip looked up. For a moment every one held his breath and waited
for the minister's action. Philip's face was pale and stern. What his
sensitive nature suffered in that moment no one ever knew, not even his
wife, who almost started from her seat, fearing that he was about to
faint. For a moment there was a hesitation about Philip's manner so
unusual with him that some thought he was going to leave the church. But
he quickly called on his will to assert its power, and, taking up the
regular communion service, he calmly took charge of it as if nothing out
of the way had occurred. He did not even allude to the morning's
incident in his prayers. Whatever else the people might think of Philip,
they certainly could find no fault with his self-possession. His conduct
of the service on that memorable Sunday was admirable.

When it was over he was surrounded by different ones who had taken part
either for or against the sexton. There was much said about the matter.
But all the arguments and excuses and comments on the affair could not
remove the heart-ache from Philip. He could not reconcile the action of
the church with the spirit of the church's Master, Jesus; and when he
finally reached home and calmly reviewed the events of the morning, he
was more and more grieved for the church and for his Master. It seemed
to him that a great mistake had been made, and that Calvary Church had
disgraced the name of Christianity.

As he had been in the habit of doing since he moved into the
neighborhood of the tenements, Philip went out in the afternoon to visit
the sick and the sorrowful. The shutting down of the mills had result