plan, which was radical and as he believed went
to the real heart of the subject. He proposed that every church in town,
regardless of its denomination, give itself in its pastor and members to
the practical solution of the social troubles by personal contact with
the suffering and sickness in the district; that the churches all throw
open their doors every day in the week, weekdays as well as Sundays, for
the discussion and agitation of the whole matter; that the country and
the State be petitioned to take speedy action toward providing necessary
labor for the unemployed; and that the churches cut down all unnecessary
expenses of paid choirs, do away with pew rents, urge wealthy members to
consecrate their riches to the solving of the problem, and in every way,
by personal sacrifice and common union, let the churches of Milton as a
unit work and pray and sacrifice to make themselves felt as a real power
on the side of the people in their present great need. It was Christian
America, but Philip's plan was not adopted. It was discussed with some
warmth, but declared to be visionary, impracticable, unnecessary, not
for the church to undertake, beyond its function, etc. Philip was
disappointed, but he kept his temper.

"Well, brethren," he said, "what can we do to help the solution of these
questions? Is the church of America to have no share in the greatest
problem of human life that agitates the world to-day? Is it not true
that the people in this town regard the Church as an insignificant
organization, unable to help at the very point of human crisis, and the
preachers as a lot weak, impractical men, with no knowledge of the real
state of affairs? Are we not divided over our denominational differences
when we ought to be united in one common work for the saving of the
whole man? I do not have any faith in the plan proposed to give our
benevolence or to district the town and visit the poor. All those things
are well enough 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 do 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 institution 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 Philip was aware he had simply put