THE, MINISTRY
DAVID BALDWIN
E-BOYD-SMITH
HENRYT-COLESTOCK
THE MINISTRY
OF
DAVID BALDWIN
A NOVEL
By
HENRY THOMAS COLESTOCK
NEW YORK
THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO.
Publishers
COPYRIGHT, 1907,
BY THOMAS Y. CROWELL & COMPANY
c
V
TO MY WIFE
M604691
ILLUSTRATIONS
" Answer me ! " (p. 249) . . Frontispiece
PACb
" Part with one of my wedding presents ? No ! " 122
On the next day the cruel words had to be
spoken . 286
With intense interest he watched Driver's pen . 296
THE MINISTRY
OF DAVID BALDWIN
i
DAVID BALDWIN sat by his study-table
looking over the program of events for
the day. On the opposite side of the
room sat his chum, Oswald, reading the morning
paper. The room was a typical student's den,
with bookcases, dictionaries, drop-lamps, sofa-
pillows, canes, college colors, class designs, foot-
ball notices, relics of class victories still cherished
with the memories of undergraduate days, a pro-
fusion of photographs on the wall, a couple of
tennis rackets, together with many other nameless
and indescribable articles which go far toward
giving a distinctive character to a student's room.
One of these articles, an ingenious device for heat-
ing water over a gas jet, suggested the possibil-
ities of hot cocoa, and of little informal gatherings
in attires wholly unconventional.
David leaned back in his chair, throwing one
leg over a corner of his study-table. He looked
out of the window over the campus apparently at
the stream of human figures beginning to form
and which would ebb and flow throughout the
1
2 THE MINISTKY OF
hours of the day. But he did not see these
streams of human beings: he ws,s only waiting
for the mail.
David had very few regular correspondents, and
there was no reason for his expecting a letter from
any of them this morning. The truth is, he was
not expecting a letter from any one in particular,
but was just hoping that the morning's mail would
bring him a letter; any tetter, even a circular
would be better than none at all.
The problem of his future was bearing hard
upon David Baldwin this morning. He had no
plans for to-morrow ; and to-day would close a
ten years' course in the schools.
His thoughts swept rapidly over the years of his
student life. Seven years ago on his graduation
from the academy, it had seemed as if the whole
world was waiting for him to put his shoulders
under some of its burdens. Indeed, he had felt
the world's need calling him so urgently, that it
had seemed quite out of the question to go on
with his college studies. A smile passed over his
face as he thought of the eagerness with which he
had then looked out on life. Yes, that graduation
from the academy marked the highest point he
had ever attained in his own estimation of him-
self.
Four years later, at the close of his college
course, his graduation had meant very little to
him, though he was among the honor men of his
class. He was certain that he knew much less
DAVID BALDWIN 3
than he did when he left the academy at least it
seemed so to him.
And now, having come to the end of his
divinity course, the burden of his own ignorance
had increased with the passing of each year.
After all, had it really been wise for him to
spend these ten years in study years of struggle
in every sense of the word? Would he not
have been better prepared now to go on with his
life's work had he spent at least the last half
of this period in actual apprenticeship? How
much time he had given to the fighting over again
of the theological battles of past generations!
And how little he really knew of the present
struggles of his fellow men in the workaday
world !
While filled with a longing to serve his fellow
men, David Baldwin was depressed with the
consciousness that his world and the one of every-
day people were not the same. His education
had, to a certain degree, exiled him from the com-
mon man. In his thought on religious subjects
especially he was conscious of a wide divergence
from the opinions and beliefs which possessed him
ten years ago. One by one he had battled for his
former views ; and one by one every religious
conception of his pre-college days had been dis-
placed. How well he remembered the anguish of
those former days when he was certain he was
losing his religion. What a revelation, what a re-
lief when he discovered, at the suggestion of a
4 THE MINISTRY OF
friend, that there is a vital distinction between re-
ligion and one's beliefs that beliefs are but ex-
planations of religion which is a life.
" Certainly, a man's religious beliefs are bound
to change as he develops intellectually. I see it
now. It is as clear as day. Religion is a life.
Creeds are but changing explanations of "
The tread of the postman on the floor below in-
terrupted David's reverie. Click, click resounded
the letter receiver as the carrier went from room
to room delivering the morning's mail. At some
of the rooms he stopped often ; at others very
seldom. And there was something truly pathetic
in the call which was heard occasionally after he
had passed some disappointed student's door.
" No mail this morning, James ? " The tone
would be one of mingled hope and doubt.
" Not this mornin', sir ; but perhaps I'll bring ye
some this afternoon." James seemed to under-
stand the heart-hunger which took possession oi
some of the boys, at times, when letters were slow
in coming.
The floor below was finished and the postman
was now coming up-stairs. David mentally fol-
lowed his progress along the hall, stopping at
most of the doors, but passing now one, now an-
other. He paused an instant before their door ;
the click of the letter receiver announced to David
and his chum that some mail awaited their atten-
tion.
" You're in luck, this morning, old man," said
DAVID BALDWIN 5
Oswald, as he gathered up the mail from the
floor.
David picked up the two letters tossed before
him. His manner was listless and indifferent.
There could be no mistaking the fact : David was
blue. He tore open one of them, without noticing
its postmark. It was from Williams, a college
classmate, containing an invitation to supply his
pulpit during the summer. " Mrs. Williams and
your namesake have extracted a promise from me
to take a little rest this summer," he wrote. " Of
course, the youngster didn't do much talking, but
I can assure you, he has done his share in making
me feel the need of a few weeks' vacation. You
know, it is sometimes said that there's nothing like
a baby to light up a home. Well, we've experi-
enced the truth of that statement since our baby
came, our house has been lit up for weeks at a
time all night.
" How is everything with you ? My three years
here are telling, things are coming my way. I
should have written you sooner, but my plans were
indefinite until yesterday. But I hope this will
reach you before you have made other plans for
the summer."
" Thank gracious ! " exclaimed Baldwin, turning
toward his friend. " At last I've a place to go
when this graduating week is past."
Oswald looked up from the letter he was read-
ing he always received a letter from his sweet-
heart on Thursdays.
6 THE MINISTRY OF
" What did you say ? " he asked.
" You didn't hear what I said ? Of course you
didn't you were in another realm," glancing at
the letter in his hand. " I was saying that at last
I have somewhere to go after my graduation.
Williams wants me to supply for him during the
summer ; Mrs. Williams and he and their young-
ster are going to rusticate on a farm."
" Fortunate fellow ! " exclaimed Oswald. " Three
years ago he faced the world on the same footing
with us."
" And I've been wondering if he did not take
the wiser course ? " said Baldwin.
" You mean his entering the pastorate at once
without waiting for his divinity course ? " asked
Oswald, glancing at some of the pages where he
had discovered the two or three sentences which
meant more to him than all the rest of the letter.
For he had learned that in love letters, as in un-
threshed wheat, not every particle is of the same
value.
" Yes : now, he is established in his work while
we have not yet entered upon ours ; he is a clergy-
man known throughout his state as a safe and suc-
cessful pastor, while we are only divinity students
without reputation, without experience."
" And encumbered with the suspicion of being
doctrinally unsound," added Oswald. " But, old
man," said he, " there are those who are hunger-
ing for what Williams cannot give. Multitudes of
men and women are indifferent to the church to-
DAVID BALDWIN 7
day simply because it is repeating a message
which it inherited, the underlying conceptions of
which mean nothing to the modern man. For my
part I prefer "
But Baldwin had opened his second letter and
was now deep into its contents, quite oblivious to
what his roommate was saying.
" Hello 1" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet, his
face expressing a curious mixture of emotions.
" Listen, while I read the queerest letter you ever
heard."
" I'm all ears."
Baldwin began
" * Tioga, Minn., June 20, 190
" ' REV. DAVID BALDWIN,
'" The Divinity School,
" 'University of the West.
" ' DEAR SIR AND BROTHER : I am writing
you to state that at a recent business meeting of
the First Church of this city it was unanimously
voted to extend you an invitation to become our
pastor ' "
" Congratulations, old man ! " exclaimed Oswald.
" So you call that the queerest "
" Just wait ! I haven't come to the queer part
yet."
He continued to read.
" ' Owing to the disturbance in our church life
caused by the marriage of our former pastor to
one of the young ladies of the congregation ' "
8 THE MINISTRY OF
" My ! but this is getting interesting," inter-
rupted Oswald. " But go on ; go on."
" ' the church voted soon thereafter not to
settle another unmarried pastor.' "
Baldwin paused an instant for this sentence to
have its full effect on his chum who was slapping
his legs and roaring with laughter.
" ' In extending to you this invitation,' " the let-
ter continued, " ' it is therefore necessary to stipu-
late that, in the event of your acceptance, you are
to come to us a married man.' "
This combination of ideas was too much for
Oswald. His laughter passed into a stage beyond
his control. He would stop for an instant, then
lose himself again. " O Lordy ! Lordy ! " he cried,
using an expression which seemed to be kept in
reserve especially for such occasions.
When his friend had calmed down a little, Bald-
win read on to the end of the letter.
" ' Your visits to us last winter during the illness
of our pastor are remembered with much pleasure ;
and it is the earnest hope of the church to receive
your early acceptance. Our salary is not large
we hope to increase it soon. At present we are
able to pay a thousand dollars a year. We give our
pastor one month's vacation during the summer.
" ' There have been some divisions in our
church but all parties unite in tendering you this
call.
" ' By order of the First Church of Tioga, Minn.
" ' J. E. STRONG,
" ' Chairman of the Standing Committee.' "
DAVID BALDWIN 9
" Well," asked Baldwin, " what do you think
of it ? "
" Think?" repeated Oswald.^ "Why, I haven't
been able to think." Only with great effort could
he restrain himself from passing into another fit
of laughter. " That church is original or noth-
ing," he added.
"And I scarcely know what to think," said
Baldwin, knitting his brow. " It seems as if the
world was inviting me to enter all of its lists at
once"
" If you should want a substitute " began
Oswald.
" Well, suppose I turn the whole matter over to
you what would you do?" asked Baldwin,
thrusting his hands into his pockets and facing
the other inquiringly.
"What would / do?" cried Oswald, pacing
about the room. "I'd get out of here at once !
my packing, well, I guess you could take care of
that and in the shortest possible time Fd meet
the stipulation of that church. By dad ! old man,
just turn the whole business over to me and you'll
see what I'd do with it ! "
" Perhaps," said Baldwin, smiling, " you would
not fill the bill with the church, I mean."
" Of course, there's the rub ! " and he drew down
the corners of his mouth. " But seriously, how
does the whole matter appeal to you?"
" I don't see how I can take it," Baldwin replied
somewhat ambiguously. " You know how matters
10 THE MINISTRY OF
stand with me. Marriage is quite out of the ques-
tion for a year and perhaps longer."
" But under the circumstances ? With this fine
opportunity of settling."
" No, even under the circumstances, I could not
arrange it. I have absolutely no choice in the
matter but to wait. You know Miss Mathews :
she would not think of marrying until she has paid
off every cent of her school debt"
" And about half of this remains? I remember
you said something to that effect the other day."
" Yes ; you see when Miriam was graduated at
Vassar last June she had a school debt of four hun-
dred dollars. One half of this she has worked off
this year."
" Good 1 " exclaimed Oswald. " I fear that is bet-
ter than you or I could have done."
" And her plan is to continue in her present posi-
tion for another year, she has a good position in
her home town as stenographer for Brown and
Brown."
" I see," said Oswald, " then her debt will be
worked off by the end of another year."
" Yes ; and I think nothing could dissuade her
from meeting every cent of her debt before marry-
ing," said Baldwin, dejectedly. " I know very well
what it means when she has once made up her mind
to do or not to do a thing," he added, signifi-
cantly.
"Without doubt," began Oswald, " she will carry
out her present plans unless " and he hesitated.
DAVID BALDWIN 11
"Unless what?" interrupted Baldwin eagerly.
It had not occurred to him that there could be any
possible alternative : Miriam had made her plans
and would certainly continue paying off her in-
debtedness. " Unless what ? "
" Unless you can get her to see," continued
Oswald, " that it is to your advantage for her to
do otherwise."
"What do you mean?" asked Baldwin, in sur-
prise. " I am sure it's something profound, but I
cannot quite grasp it."
"Why I mean just this : a woman will do any-
thing for the man she loves when she sees that it
is plainly for his advantage. No, this is not an
original contribution to knowledge," he added,
laughing ; " I read it somewhere."
Baldwin was silent. In his mind a new idea
was struggling into form. The lines about his
mouth tightened ; his brow gathered, bringing
into sight deep furrows. He looked hard at
something on the rug just in front of him. Slowly
his intense expression grew relaxed ; the look in
his eye changed from one of doubt to one of hope ;
his face became suffused with emotion. The
transformation was little short of marvelous ! A
moment ago, dejection, indifference possessed
him ; now, a strange hopeful eagerness lit up his
countenance, energizing his whole body.
" Oswald, old man, I believe you are right ! "
he exclaimed. " You have struck one shackle
from my bondage. But I am still fettered by an-
12 THE MINISTRY OF
other. Leave not thy work half undone ! " he
pleaded, in a mock heroic tone.
" Show me, O my half unshackled friend,
wherein thy bondage lies, and trust my skill to
cleave the knot ! " said Oswald.
" You have opened my slow eyes to see that
Miriam may change her plans, that a woman
will do anything for the man she loves, when that
act is for his advantage. Now, that I've stated
the idea, it seems as self-evident as, as an axiom
in geometry. But my present difficulty is to to
see clearly how I am to " and Baldwin
hesitated.
" To make her see that this is really to your ad-
vantage this changing of her plans about marry-
ing before meeting the remainder of her school
debt?" interpreted Oswald.
" Yes ; that's it. How am I to make her see the
advantage ? I have little faith in my own per-
suasive powers when Miriam is the one to be
moved."
"My boy," said Oswald, "there is an adage,
born doubtless of such occasions as this, which
says, * Love will find a way.' '
"You're right! I believe it will!" exclaimed
Baldwin. "I'm free both shackles gone!"
There was confidence in his tone. " Old man, I
am living in a different world from the one in
which I existed when the postman came."
Drawing paper to him, Baldwin at once began
to write as follows :
DAVID BALDWIN 13
" Room 775, Divinity Hall,
" University of the West,
"June 21, 190
" MR. J. E. STRONG,
" Chairman Standing Committee,
" First Church, Tioga, Minn.
" MY DEAR BROTHER, I am replying to your
esteemed favor of yesterday. After prayerful con-
sideration "
David stopped. Surely that phrase " prayerful
consideration" sounded all right. Yes, it was con-
ventional, what the church would expect him to use.
Still his pen hesitated. " No," said he, " I will not
use it ; I'll be honest. God helping me, I will be-
gin and end my relations with this church in can-
dor and fidelity to the truth ! " He began the let-
ter on a new sheet.
" I am replying to your esteemed favor of yes-
terday in which you do me the honor of inviting
me, in behalf of your church, to become your
pastor.
" I have considered your invitation and also the
stipulation accompanying the same.
" To know that you still remember my visits of
last winter affords me much pleasure. In view of
the impression I gained of your church life and
activity while among you then, I too have a 'con-
dition ' which I wish to offer for the church to con-
sider, and my reply to your invitation will be de-
termined, in part at least, by your answer to the
following question : Will the church vote to adopt
what may be termed in general a modern aggres-
sive policy ?
14 DAVID BALDWIN
" My answer to your invitation, in view of the
unusual condition imposed upon me, cannot be
given at once. I would therefore request that two
months be given me ; at the end of which time I
will be able to state whether or not I can meet your
stipulated condition.
" Thanking you for the honor of this invitation,
I am,
" Respectfully yours,
" DAVID BALDWIN."
II
DAVID BALDWIN'S call to the pastorate
of the First Church of Tioga was the re-
sult of a peculiar combination of circum-
stances.
It will be necessary for us to go back, in point
of time, to a memorable business meeting of the
church, several weeks earlier.
Mr. Brand and Deacon Long, two of the most
prominent members of the church, were in earnest
consultation at the farther end of the lecture room.
" Even if several more on the other side do
come in later, we have already more than enough
to defeat the election," said the deacon, in a low
tone.
" But it's always best to be on the safe side/ 1
replied Mr. Brand, in the same low tone. " I was
expecting Driver to work up his side a little
stronger than he has, apparently."
" And it takes a three-fourths vote, too, for the
election of a pastor. Amos Driver will wish he'd
never had that clause inserted in the by-laws."
Deacon Long's usually serious face relaxed, not
into a smile, but into the semblance of one.
" Yes," observed Mr. Brand, " it's the old situ-
ation of the calf and the rope over again. Though
I fought that clause when Driver proposed it, it
will serve our purpose and not his to-night."
15
16 THE MINISTRY OF
" There are few things you haven't fought when
Amos Driver wanted them, I guess," said the
deacon.
" But there is no sense in letting one man run a
church," replied Mr. Brand, stroking his beard.
" You know, deacon, how it was before I came
here."
" Amos Driver certainly had things pretty much
his own way," acknowledged the deacon.
"Just because he's got more money than any
of the rest of us, I don't propose that Driver shall
dictate the policy of this church not so long as I
am a member of it."
" I am sure Amos Driver don't feel that way,"
said the deacon, now taking the part of his neigh-
bor. " It's just his way. It's as much his nature
as breathing, to want things to go according to
his own notion. But, as I have often said to my
wife, we're not responsible for what's born in us ;
it's a part of our fallen depravity."
" But think how he opposed us in that business
meeting four weeks ago tQ-night ! And all be-
cause the meeting hadn't been announced from
the pulpit the preceding Sunday 1 It was a
disgrace to what length Driver carried things
that night. But it's a long lane which has no
turn," said Mr. Brand, nodding his head signifi-
cantly.
" But the by-laws were on his side as you were
forced to admit," said the deacon, again cham-
pioning his friend.
DAVID BALDWIN 17
" Well, the by-laws are on my side to-night,"
rejoined Mr. Brand.
Just then Amos Driver, watch in hand, ap-
proached the Sunday-school superintendent.
" This meeting was announced to open at eight-
thirty," said he, consulting his watch. " And it's
past that time now." His tone was sharp and
abrupt.
" Perhaps you are a few seconds fast, Brother
Driver," replied the superintendent, good-na-
turedly, as he consulted his own watch. In the
absence of a pastor, it was his duty to preside at
the business meetings of the church.
" The brethren will please come to order," said
he. In the superintendent's vocabulary " breth-
ren " was undoubtedly a generic term including
the sisters also ; for there were fully five times as
many women as men before him.
The hum of voices gradually ceased as the lit-
tle groups breaking up now settled down into the
straight-backed, hard-bottomed chairs, in which
one could approach a comfortable position only
by putting one's feet up on the rounds of the chair
in front. Was it because the chairs were so un-
comfortable that so many of the members seemed
to enjoy the ten minutes' social chat, while they
stood up and talked to one another, more than
they did the hour in which they sat down and
talked to the Lord ?
Mr. Brand and Deacon Long reluctantly
stopped their conversation and were the last to
18 THE MINISTRY OF
take their seats. The chairman waited a mo-
ment for them to get settled, then cleared his
throat and began.
" Brethren, there is some important business to
come before us this evening, the nature of which
was indicated in the notice given from the pulpit
last Sunday. Will the clerk please read that
notice now ? "
A young man, whose expression revealed the
beginnings of reflective habits, arose from the side
of a dark-haired young lady in the audience, came
forward to a little table near the chairman, and
read the following notice :
" In accordance with the requirements of section
4, article 6, of the by-laws of this church and so-
ciety, notice is hereby given of a special business
meeting of this church and society at the close of
the prayer-meeting of this weqk, to consider the
calling of a pastor.
" By order of the Standing Committee,
"J. E. STRONG, Chairman.
" PAUL GREEN, Clerk."
As the clerk read the words " section 4, article
6," Cora Stewart gave her sister Mary a vigorous
nudge with her elbow. Mary, who carried enough
gravity for the whole family, as her mother had
often said, turned and gave her sister a look of
dignified rebuke, though she afterward acknowl-
edged she didn't mean anything by it. The
Stone girls there were six of them, and all were
present this evening, though at the usual mid-
DAVID BALDWIN 19
week service three attended one week and three
the next exchanged knowing looks and entered
into elbow communications. Miss Adams did not
smile. She always took the business meetings
very seriously.
But of " section 4, article 6," we shall learn more
later.
As the clerk sat down, the chairman, looking
over the audience, said,
" Brethren, what is your pleasure ? "
The eyes of the congregation were turned on
Amos Driver and Mr. Brand. All knew that the
meeting lay in the hands of these two men, sitting
on opposite sides on the front row of chairs.
" Mr. Chairman," said Amos Driver, taking the
floor, " as the notice of this meeting was duly
given out from the pulpit on the Sunday preced-
ing this meeting, we are legally convened in busi-
ness capacity according to the by-laws of this
church and society. You all know," he contin-
ued, " that I am hostile to any attempt to transact
the business of this church in meetings not legally
convened according to section 4, article 6, of our
by-laws," making an emphatic gesture with his
head and looking in the direction of Mr. Brand.
"But being now legally called together for the
consideration of such business, and only such busi-
ness, as was named in the announcement of this
meeting, I move that we at once proceed to cast
an informal ballot."
" I second the motion," said Mr. Brand.
20 THE MINISTRY OF
The informal ballot was taken, a young in-
structor in the University and a young lawyer,
acting as tellers.
" Mr. Chairman," said the clerk, " the result of
the ballot stands as follows : of the sixty votes
cast, twenty-nine are for Dr. Thompson, and
thirty-one, for Rev. John Upham."
A painful silence, some of the members almost
holding their breath, ensued. All felt that the
contest was on, and that the present silence was
but a calm before the storm.
There were present at this mid-week service
more than twice the usual attendance. As this
always happened when a business meeting was
announced to follow the prayer service, we cannot
help wondering whether this increased attendance
indicated that the members cared more for the
business interests of the church than they did for
the opportunity the church afforded for the culti-
vation of the spiritual life. But it would hardly
do to draw such a conclusion, else we might un-
wittingly carry our reasoning one step further and
say that those who absented themselves from all
forms of the mid-week service, were interested in
neither the business nor the spiritual affairs of the
organization to which they belonged ! Into what
absurd conclusions logic sometimes takes us I
But the business meetings of this church had
attained for themselves a reputation of being in-
teresting. Indeed, Cora Stewart was known to
have said she had rather attend a church business
DAVID BALDWIN 21
meeting than to go to a circus. Such a remark
was promptly frowned upon by her elder sister
Mary, who sagely observed that the truth should
not always be spoken, that sometimes it did not
sound reverent. At this her sister only laughed.
Nevertheless, these business meetings did fre-
quently pass into a stage in which the word " inter-
esting" was altogether too mild a term to present
an adequate description of them. And the reason
for all this lay, for the most part, in the peculiar
quality of human nature embodied in our two
friends, Amos Driver and Sylvester Brand.
These two men each had a reputation for being
decidedly set in his ways and opinions. In their
church relations both were active and faithful
members, discharging their duties, as each saw
them, with far more than the usual zeal. In fact
the loss of either of these members would have
been a severe blow to the church.
In the business meetings of the church, how-
ever, it was positively certain that some disagree-
ment would always arise between them. Perhaps
this should be accounted for largely by the fact
of their very dissimilar temperaments. Deacon
Long, however, always found an adequate ex-
planation for the disagreement by saying that
they were born that way, and that they couldn't
help it : it was a part of their fallen depravity.
Amos Driver waited until the formal ballot was
taken, and the result, the same as that of the in-
formal ballot, was announced by the clerk. Then
22 THE MINISTRY OF
he arose, walked very deliberately into the open
space in front of the audience near the chairman's
desk, and stood facing the rest of the members.
His tall figure, held in perfect poise, gave little
evidence of his seventy years ; from his eyes
flashed something of the old fire with which, in
his younger days, in committee meetings and on
the floor of the lower House, he had thrown into
confusion many a political opponent.
" Mr. Chairman," said he, with a slight inclina-
tion of his head toward the chair, but without re-
moving his eyes from the audience, " Mr. Chair-
man, I rise to denounce a conspiracy." The tone
in which these words were uttered was charged
with ill concealed anger.
The lecture-room was becoming transformed
into an arena; the contest was now beginning.
Sister Wood sat with her head bowed in silent
prayer. For over forty years she had been going
through these business meetings and well she
knew the indications of the coming outburst.
" We have met here this evening," continued
Amos Driver, " legally convened together accord-
ing to our by-laws to consider the calling of a
pastor. And now, because of my opposition to
Brother Brand's desire to transact the business of
this church in a meeting not legally convened, as
he would have done four weeks ago but for me,
he has now hatched a conspiracy, yes, I said
hatched, hatched, Brother Brand, you have hatched
a miserable, contemptible conspiracy in order to
DAVID BALDWIN 23
defeat the election of Dr. Thompson to the pas-
torate of this church.
" Now, I'm not going to say anything against
Brother Brand, you all know I love Brother
Brand and that he loves me, and that he is one of
the most useful men in our church and we couldn't
get along without him yet he has his faults like
the rest of us ; and one of them is that he always
wants his own way.
" As I was saying, we are legally convened to-
gether to elect a pastor. I came here this evening
expecting a unanimous vote for Dr. Thompson.
Every one I have spoken to was heartily in his
favor. Imagine my consternation, yes, consterna-
tion, when the clerk announced thirty-one votes
for the Rev. John Upham ! Why; up to that min-
ute I had not even so much as heard that any one
wanted the Rev. John Upham to be pastor of this
church ! And I do not believe that Brother Brand
wants him ; I do not believe that any of you who
were influenced by Brother Brand to vote for him,
really desire the Rev. John Upham to be pastor of
this church. It's nothing but a conspiracy, a rank
conspiracy, to defeat the election of a gentleman,
whom many of us would be "
" I rise to a point of order," said Mr. Palmer,
the young lawyer, interrupting Mr. Driver.
" State your point," said the chairman.
" There is no motion before us," said he.
"The point is sustained," said the chairman,
looking from Mr. Brand to Amos Driver, who still
24: THE MINISTRY OF
held the floor. " If the brethren wish to speak
further, we must first have a motion before us."
" I move we adjourn," said Sister Wood.
" Second the motion," said the Sister Allen,
nervously. " I shall have one of my terrible head-
aches if I stay here much longer," she added in an
undertone to Miss North, who sat near her.
" Let us vote it down," said Cora Stewart to the
row of Stone girls. " Why, the fun's just begun ! "
" All in favor of the motion, please stand," said
the chairman. About fifteen ladies stood. The
motion was lost.
" Mr. Chairman," all eyes were turned toward
Mr. Brand " in order to bring the matter before
us, I move that we ballot for Dr. Thompson."
" Second the motion," said Deacon Long.
" Now, brethren," said the chairman, " there is a
motion before us : are there any further remarks? "
" Mr. Chairman."
" Brother Brand," said the chairman, acknowl-
edging the speaker.
" Mr. Chairman," Mr. Brand continued, very
calmly, as if stating a matter wholly impersonal,
" I have the honor to be called a conspirator. I
suppose this is owing to the fact that I differ from
Brother Driver. I am here to state that not my-
self alone but at least thirty other members now
present, are not so favorably disposed toward call-
ing Dr. Thompson to the pastorate of this church
as you are, Brother Driver.
" For myself, and I speak for others, I am op-
DAVID BALDWIN 25
posed to the election of Dr. Thompson for several
good reasons. In the first place, Dr. Thompson
is too old a man for the pastorate of our church.
Here in this University town we need a young
man, one who can attract the students. Why,
there are more than one hundred students of our
denomination in the University, scarcely ten of
whom attend our church. Do we not owe it to
the denomination to do all we can for the boys
and girls who come here from all over the state ?
Do we not then need a young pastor, one in the
closest sympathy with the young people ?
" Further, I am opposed to the election of Dr.
Thompson because he is not in favor of church
suppers. I had a talk with him on this subject
and he expressed himself to me very freely. Of
course I did not tell him which side of the ques-
tion I was on. Why, we have the finest kitchen
and arrangements for giving suppers of any
church in this city. Last year the Ladies' Aid
Society netted three hundred dollars from these
suppers a convenient source of revenue as many
of us can appreciate. No, sir ; I'm not in favor of
calling any man to the pastorate of this church
who expresses himself on this subject as Dr.
Thompson did in my presence."
" If Brother Brand had as many dishes to wash
every day as we have at our house," said one of
the Stone sisters in an undertone to Miss Irving,
" he wouldn't be so fond of church suppers."
" Nor if he had to do the begging that I do
26 THE MINISTRY OF
every time," replied Miss Irving quickly. Miss
Irving always had a generous share of this
kind of " church work " laid upon her unwilling
shoulders.
4< You always have such good luck people
can't refuse you, you know," the president of the
Ladies' Aid Society had said. And there was
truth in the remark people just couldn't refuse
Miss Irving.
Meanwhile, during this conversation in the rear
of the house, Mr. Brand was gliding gracefully
into his third objection to poor Dr. Thompson.
(Let us hope his ears did not burn !)
" Neither can we, as one of the smaller churches
of the city," said he, " afford to ignore, in our con-
sideration of this subject, a fact which I would fain
leave unmentioned Dr. Thompson has a very
large family an unusually large family even for
a pastor, and on the moderate salary we can
afford to pay, he could not live in that part of the
city where we would like to have our pastor reside
rents are too high. He would need too large
a house. And the social standing of the churches
of this city is gauged more than we care to admit
by the residence of the pastor. If our church is
ever to rise, socially, we must see to it that our
pastor rents a house in a desirable quarter of the
city. I am not in favor of Dr. Thompson because
in his case this would be out of the question, his
family is too large ; with all of his other expenses
he could not afford it.
DAVID BALDWIN 27
"And," continued Mr. Brand, pursuing his sub-
ject mercilessly, but hesitating as if loath to con-
tinue in the performance of an unwelcome duty ;
"I have heard more than one member of this
church state that she did not like Dr. Thompson's
appearance in the pulpit. One lady said to me,
* Dr. Thompson is too thick and too short ; he
looks too much like a butcher/ This remark, I
grant, may be carrying a criticism too far ; but
one cannot get around it Dr. Thompson does
lack a pleasing appearance in the pulpit. Of
course, it makes little difference to me, personally ;
but in attracting strangers to our church we must
have a preacher of pleasing manners and pulpit
appearance.
" As I said, these things have little weight with
me ; but in our consideration of such an important
subject as the calling of a pastor, we should keep
in mind that we are not acting for ourselves
alone. Every church exists to minister to the
needs of the community. And there are any
number of people in every cultured community
who do not enjoy looking at a preacher whose
over-studious life has robbed him of the greater
part of his hair. The fact that Dr. Thompson is
bald cannot but make him less attractive, and un-
fortunately, less desirable as a pastor.
" Now, while I have no desire to question Dr.
Thompson's ability to guide his own affairs, I
happen to have heard something about his eldest
son which I do not care to repeat in this presence.
28 THE MINISTRY OF
Young men, of course, will be young men, whether
in a preacher's family or anywhere else. But it is
especially unfortunate," here the speaker's voice
was lowered to a confidential tone, "when any
member of a clergyman's family so acts that the
father feels his own usefulness at an end where he
is now living. It is possible, however, that Dr.
Thompson has other motives for wishing to leave
his present pastorate. But this probable one should
not be passed over lightly by us.
" Further, in calling a pastor, are we not also
bound to consider the fitness of the pastor's wife ?
Is it not a matter of common observation that in
the ministry the pastor's wife often counts for more
than the pastor himself ? I am sure that many of
us have known personally of such instances. Is it
well, then, for us seriously to think of calling to the
pastorate of this church a clergyman whose wife is
almost, if not quite, an invalid ? Invalidism doubt-
less brings in its train many high and holy com-
pensations ; but it unquestionably unfits a clergy-
man's wife for taking that social leadership of
which we, as a church, now stand so much in
need.
" So far as Dr. Thompson's scholarship is con-
cerned," continued Brother Brand, suavely, " it is
true he is all that any church could reasonably de-
sire ; nevertheless, in view of what I have said, he
certainly is not the man for the pastorate of this
church. He is too far advanced in years, his per-
sonal appearance is against him, his family is too
DAVID BALDWIN 29
large, one of his sons is in bad repute where they
are now living, his wife is practically an invalid
and he is not in favor of church suppers he told
me so himself. For these reasons, and others
which might be mentioned, Mr. Chairman, I am
opposed to calling Dr. Thompson to the pastorate
of our church."
Mr. Brand, glowing with the feeling of triumph,
sat down. Of course, what he had said was in be-
half of the welfare of the church ; yet there was un-
deniably a certain personal gratification in getting
the better of the man who had worsted him four
weeks ago. Dr. Thompson was Amos Driver's
candidate, and to show the reasons why Driver's
candidate should not be the choice of the church,
was a rare morsel to Brand, one which he had
rolled over and over again under his tongue. But
his opponent was not to be silenced by one broad-
side.
Instantly Driver was on his feet, pointing his
long index finger directly at Brand, and piercing
him with the steady look of his steel gray eyes.
" Sylvester Brand I " Driver always called Brand
by his Christian name when the discussion had
passed to an exasperating stage. " Sylvester
Brand ! " said he, shaking his long finger at his
opponent, " you ought to be the last man on earth
to find fault with another man's looks 1 But I did
not start out to make a speech on good looks, nor
do I need to say anything of Brand's beauty : a
mere allusion to the subject is sufficient. But I will
30 THE MINISTRY OF
say, people who live in glass houses should be care-
ful how they throw stones ; yes, Brother Brand, they
should be very careful how they throw stones. It
passes my understanding, the facts being as they
are, how any man utterly devoid of good looks
can find fault with the appearance of Dr. Thomp-
son.
"And as for Dr. Thompson's large family, of
which Brother Brand has spoken so solicitously,
fearing lest this would detract from some fancied
advantage to the church, I say that this whole
matter is none of our business, neither mine nor
Sylvester Brand's. If Dr. Thompson is blessed
with a large family, shall we, a body of Christian
men and women, think him unfit to preach the
Gospel to us because he has obeyed the divine in-
junction to be fruitful and multiply? Would you
have a celibate ministry ? Would you dictate to a
clergyman how many children he may have in
order to be acceptable to a congregation ?, Why,
Sylvester Brand, you had better become a Catho-
lic at once. But personal independence is a prin-
ciple of our denomination ; and as long as it so
remains, you, Sylvester Brand, have no call to in-
trude, yes, I say intrude, on the family affairs of
the ministry.
" As the members of this church know very well,
I, too, am hostile," continued Driver using a word
which he had frequent occasion to employ in the
business meetings of the church ; " I, too, am
hostile to church suppers. I always have been and
DAVID BALDWIN 31
I always will be. Every time I see a lot of women
here a-working themselves sick when they ought
to be in their own homes, many of them attending
to their own children, I say to myself : what a lot
of geese I beg the pardon of the ladies what a
lot of geese for letting Sylvester Brand get them
into such unprofitable nonsense ! For if there is
anything that does not pay, it's certainly church
suppers. And I'm in favor of Dr. Thompson for
his sensible Christian views on that subject."
Miss Irving nodded her head approvingly.
" That's just what I've said many and many a
time," she whispered to Miss Adams. " Brother
Driver is right : the suppers don't pay. If we didn't
beg our supplies we'd "
" Lots of fun ! these business meetings, aren't
they ? " whispered Cora Stewart interrupting Miss
Irving.
" I can't see where the ' fun ' comes in," said
staid Miss Appleton. " I think the way these two
men carry on is just horrid ! "
" And I say so, too ! " quickly observed Miss
Fenwick. " There's nothing Christian about it."
While these and other opinions were being ex-
changed on the back seats, Amos Driver continued
to address himself to the audience in general but
specifically to Mr. Brand.
" The main thing we want in a pastor is sense,
good horse sense," rising a little on his toes and
giving an emphatic gesture with his whole body
" and Dr. Thompson has sense ; he's a man of
32 THE MINISTRY OF
ripe experience and as for being too old, why
he's not a day over fifty-five, just in his prime.
Dr. Thompson is just about your own age, Syl-
vester Brand, and you're one of the most ener-
getic men in this city. It's all nonsense, this
wanting a younger man. Why, we have just had
a young pastor, a young unmarried man, and see
what a disturbance he caused in this church !
There was no rest nor peace until he got married.
I never could understand why unmarried ministers
should cause so much disturbance in a church I
But they always do. Of the twenty-four pastors
we've had since I've been a member of this church,
which will be fifty-three years come next October,
four were sin'gle men ; and it's been the same in
every case more or less disturbance in the con-
gregation.
" No, sir ; I'm not in favor of calling a young
man. Why, the young ministers of to-day don't
know what they believe. Not that I'm narrow or
think an opinion is always right simply because
it has been held in the past ; for there are some
of the old doctrines which I myself do not accept,
especially the Calvinistic doctrine of Election.
Yet, I want a pastor who has settled down to a
few plain, sensible convictions just such a man as
Dr. Thompson.
" Sylvester Brand ! " the old gentleman's eyes
flashed as he lifted his long index finger and
pointed it at the person addressed, " I charge you
with deliberately conspiring to defeat the election
DAVID BALDWIN 33
of Dr. Thompson to the pastorate of this church 1
Your objections to him are nonsense, sheer non-
sense 1 It passes my understanding how a Chris-
tian man of your parts, with the judgment you
ordinarily manifest, can act so stupidly, can be so
utterly devoid of sense when it comes to the busi-
ness affairs of the church. I have known few
men, Sylvester Brand, more obstinate. You are
always opposing something which the rest of us
want. One would think that you felt called on to
run this church according to the notion of Sylves-
ter Brand ! That kitchen and the rest of this eat-
ing tomfoolery we have to thank you for. And
it's a curse to the church ; yes, sir, a curse to the
church 1
" And to think that this church is defeated in its
desire to call Dr. Thompson, just because of your
unchristian opposition ! I suppose you think you
are serving the Lord by opposing Dr. Thompson's
election. But let me tell you, Sylvester Brand, ac-
cording to my light, you're doing no such thing ;
you're bent on getting even with me for not letting
you go on with your meeting four weeks ago.
But you needn't think because you've got the best
of me to-night that I'm going to step aside and
let you run this church. I've been a member here
too long fifty-three years come next October,
I've contributed five times, yes ten times as much
to this church as you ever have. And yet you
seem to think because you're twenty years younger
than I am, you know what is best for the good of
34 THE MINISTRY OF
this church. Doubtless you are the people, Syl-
vester Brand, and wisdom will die with you."
A torrent of heated words was rushing to the
old gentleman's lips as he sat down, thoroughly
carried away by the rising tide of his ungovern-
able passion. His breath came quick and labored ;
his eyes flashed ; his whole frame quivered with
rage. Standing, he was an object for admiration
a fountain from which an irresistible stream of
energy flowed forth. But as soon as he sat down,
he became an object of pity. Poor Amos Driver !
for the next two weeks you will have to wrestle in
your wilderness, with your legions of devils, chief
among which will be sleeplessness and indigestion.
Fortunately, Mrs. Driver was not present at the
meeting. She was a cultivated woman of fine
Christian spirit ; and she had learned years before
not to interfere with her husband.
" Mr. Chairman," said Mr. Brand, rising imme-
diately, "I am sure "
But the meeting was breaking up in confusion.
" I just can't stay here any longer ! " exclaimed
Mrs. Allen, as she withdrew with Miss North.
" I'll be sick from this meeting, now. These busi-
ness meetings always do bring on one of my nerv-
ous headaches."
" And it's no wonder ! " said Miss North.
" How can we expect our church to grow when
we have such scenes?" asked Miss Adams of
Elvira Stone.
"What made you people begin to go out?"
DAVID BALDWIN 35
asked Cora Stewart. " I wanted to stay for the
next act. A circus, wasn't it ? "
" Not quite up to the one four weeks ago," said
Mr. Palmer, as he joined the group.
As Mrs. Strong was leaving the lecture room
with her husband, she passed near where Mr.
Brand and Deacon Long were quietly chatting,
apparently, as if they had not been the means of
throwing a church meeting into a state of hope-
less confusion.
" You men should be ashamed of yourselves 1 "
she cried. " You seem to delight in scrapping as
much as little boys do." She placed a hand on
Mr. Brand's arm and looked searchingly into his
face. " Do you feel that you have been manifest-
ing the Christ spirit to-night ? " she asked, looking
from one to the other ; and without waiting for a
reply, she passed on with her husband to the door.
Ill
SUNDAY after Sunday passed, bringing to
the pulpit various candidates and supplies.
The number of clergymen wishing to ap-
pear before the church seemed almost limitless.
Very few, however, had written in their own be-
half ; nearly all had asked some brother clergyman
to bring their names to the notice of the church.
" Nine new names, this week," said the clerk,
laying a package of letters on the table in the
church parlor, where the Standing Committee
were gathered for their meeting that evening.
" If this keeps on/' added Paul, laughing, " I shall
soon be in need of a secretary."
" One with dark hair, who can write shorthand,"
laughed Mr. Strong, quickly following up the op-
portunity Paul's remark had opened.
" Certainly," replied the young man, doing his
best to cover his embarrassment ; "I'd want an
expert stenographer none other would do. And
as for the color of her hair," pushing his fingers
through his own red locks, " black is one of the
indispensables."
Miss Adams looked up from her crocheting, her
fingers keeping on busily with their work, while
she entered heartily, in her quiet way, into the en-
36
DAVID BALDWIN 37
joyment the rest of the committee were having at
Paul's expense.
"Are we all here?" asked the chairman, look-
ing around the room. " All but Deacon Long,"
ha added.
" We can't wait for the deacon," said Amos
Driver, impatiently consulting his watch. "It's
time to begin. I want to get home before it gets
too late."
"Very well," replied Mr. Strong; "we'll not
wait. Perhaps the deacon may come in later.
We shall proceed at once to the reading of the
letters received since our last meeting."
" The first one," said the clerk, unsheathing the
letter from its envelope, " is from the pastor of the
First church of Palmyra, Minnesota. He writes :
" ' BRETHREN : In view of the vacancy in your
pulpit I am writing to you to commend to your
notice the Rev. James Armstrong, a personal
friend of mine, now pastor of the First church of
Norwich, Conn., a man whose gifts and training
give him a peculiar fitness, in my judgment, to
meet with more than ordinary success the exact-
ing demands of your pulpit, located as it is under
the shadow of a large university.
" ' Mr. Armstrong has been a successful pastor
in the East for some ten years ; but like myself
and many other brother clergymen, he has come
to feel that there is a larger freedom of utterance
in the pulpits of the West. Though the salary
you pay at present is much less than what Mr.
Armstrong is now receiving, I happen to know
that this fact would make no difference with him ;
38 THE MINISTRY OF
for he desires at almost any pecuniary sacrifice to
exchange his present location for one where he
can deliver his message with freedom.
" ' I am writing freely to you of his reasons for
wanting to come West, because, from your loca-
tion in a University town, it occurred to me that
your church would offer just the opportunity he
now desires.
" ' Mr. Armstrong is a thoroughly up to date,
progressive man. He is a writer of recognized
ability as you will see from the enclosed reviews
of two of his volumes.
" ' Believe me, as ever,
" ' Sincerely yours,
" ' H. W. HENDRICK.' '
" That's the kind of letter I like," said Mrs.
Terry. " It's plain and to the point."
" Yes ; and I think we need just such a man,"
said Mr. Strong. " Our pastors have been too
conservative ; we've lost a number of University
families who now attend other churches simply
because our preaching has been well, because in
other churches it is easy to find something more
modern."
" These families you speak of have gone doubt-
less where they belong," said Brother Brand
quickly. "If they had belonged to us they would
have enjoyed our preaching and stayed with us."
" Mr. Hendrick seems to take our liberality for
granted," said Mrs. Wood, smiling.
" Yes," replied Miss Adams, without losing the
count of her stitches.
DAVID BALDWIN 39
" Perhaps if he knew us better, he would change
his opinion," continued Mrs. Wood.
" Yes," again assented Miss Adams, her atten-
tion divided between her crocheting and the con-
versation about her. In any other woman this
would have been intolerable ; but in Miss Adams
it was different. A little work-bag always accom-
panied her to committee meetings, church socials,
coffees, and to all other church gatherings during
the week except the midweek prayer-service.
" This review speaks very highly of Mr. Arm-
strong's book," said Mr. Driver, passing it on to
Mrs. Terry.
" ' Permanent and Temporary Elements in the
Teaching of Paul/" read Mrs. Terry. " That's
an interesting title."
" But do you not notice that the clipping is
from a Unitarian periodical ? " asked Brother
Brand.
"Is it?"
" Yes."
" * Can any good thing come out of Nazareth ? ' '
asked Mrs. Wood, the least suspicion of sarcasm
in her tone. Mrs. Wood's only sister was a Uni-
tarian. " Of course the book is heretical, being
favorably reviewed in a Unitarian paper 1 "
" Shows at least its affinity," said Brand.
" I should like to read that book ! " exclaimed
Mrs. Terry, as she finished the reviews. " I think
I shall send for a copy. Why, I never could
agree with all that Paul teaches. It certainly is
40 THE MINISTRY OF
reasonable to hold that there is an element in his
teachings which applied only to the conditions of
his day."
" For instance, his remark about women speak-
ing in meeting," said Driver, glad of the chance
to join with the ladies against Brand.
" Yes ; and I think some of his doctrinal state-
ments were colored by the prevailing atmosphere
and expectations of his day," continued Mrs.
Terry, warmly.
" But how can that be, when Paul was inspired ? "
asked Miss Adams, for the moment forgetting her
crocheting.
" Yes," said Brand, " if the Bible is inspired,
it's inspired, every word of it from Genesis to
Revelations."
" Granting Paul's inspiration, couldn't there
still be a temporary element in his teaching?"
asked the clerk, who was expecting to enter the
ministry.
Mrs. Terry looked at him gratefully and
continued.
" Yes, why couldn't he be inspired to deliver a
message with a temporary significance as well
as one whose significance and value were per-
manent ? "
" It's not a question what Paul might or might
not have done," replied Brand, severely ; " it's a
question of the authority of God's Word. If once
we begin to say, 'This is temporary and that's
permanent/ we've robbed the Word of God of its
DAVID BALDWIN 41
divine authority. Might as well have no Bible at
all ! For each of us would throw out as a ' tem-
porary element' whatever didn't suit him."
" No ; not throw it away, but interpret it in
view of the conditions under which it was written,' 1
said Mrs. Wood.
" That is exactly what we women have to do with
many of Paul's statements," added Mrs. Terry.
" And is it not what we all do with practically
all of the Old Testament ? " asked Mr. Strong.
" Certainly ! " said Mrs. Terry. " Nor does this
destroy our belief in the Bible, either."
" It's a dangerous position to hold," persisted
Brand. " Ultimately it will land one in Unitarian-
ism ! "
" I've held it for twenty years," replied Mrs.
Terry, warmly; "and I'm just as good a church
member as as you are ! " Her voice was trem-
bling in spite of her efforts to appear undisturbed.
4< I never could see the reason why liberal views
may not be held by us as well as by Unitarians,
or any other denomination," she added, looking
around the room as if inviting support.
Mr. Strong was an excellent chairman. His
unfailing good nature and his keen sense of humor
enabled him frequently to divert the brethren from
threshing over too often old straw from which the
last kernel had long since been flailed.
" I believe," said he, smiling, " we are discussing
Mr. Hendrick's letter. What is your pleasure con-
cerning it ? "
42 THE MINISTRY OF
" I move that Mr. Armstrong's name be placed
on our * approved list/ " said Mrs. Terry. The
motion was carried, though Mr. Brand and Deacon
Long voted in the negative, and Miss Adams did
not vote either way.
The clerk entered Mr. Armstrong's name be-
neath twenty-three others, and, returning the letter
to its envelope, numbered it on the back, sixty-
seven, which meant that the committee had pre-
viously read and discussed sixty-six letters of
similar import as the one just added to the pile.
From these sixty-six communications the com-
mittee had selected twenty- three names for further
consideration. Already the first fifteen clergymen
on this approved list had been before the church,
supplying the pulpit from one to two Sundays
each.
" The next letter," said the clerk unfolding the
typewritten sheet before him, " is from Dr. Porter,
Chairman of the Board of Recommendations, of
the Divinity Faculty, of the University of the
West. He writes :
" ' MY DEAR BRETHREN : From an item in
the Weekly I learn that you are still without a
pastor. You are doubtless acting wisely in wait-
ing so long for the right man. Too many churches
act, in this important matter, wjth undue haste and
reap consequences painful to themselves ; for in
selecting a pastor, as in buying a pair of shoes,
few things are more painful than a misfit.
"'I should have 'written to you before, had it
DAVID BALDWIN 43
not been that it is our policy to locate our students
as far as possible in churches smaller than yours.
In this way the inevitable mistakes of the young
pastor are kept in the background, as they could
not be if our students at once entered upon more
conspicuous fields.
" * But in the event of your not having been able
during the past six months to decide on a pastor, I
now feel called upon to write you. From the nature
of our student body, coming as the young men do
from all over the world, we are able to suit the de-
mands of different types of churches. We endeavor
to know our men as a merchant knows his wares,
so that when a church tells us what it wants we can
make the selection accordingly. Few things are
more distressing to us than misfits a liberal man
in a conservative pulpit, or vice versa ; or a man of
scholarly habits and tastes where the people want
most of all a pastor fond of making calls ; or a man
who would like to spend most of his time in making
calls, in a church which cares only to see its pastor
in the pulpit, and demands good scholarly sermons.
" ' Now, if you will indicate what type of pas-
tor you wish, whether married or single some
churches are very particular on this point, liberal
or conservative, a man of scholarly habits or one
who cares more to be among people than books,
one inclined to sociology we are beginning to
make a specialty of this type as it is freer from
theological eccentricities and less apt to dwell on
disputed doctrinal questions or one inclined to
literature, or to foreign missions, a man who
studies the Bible in the original languages and
reads the revised version in the pulpit, or one
who uses only the King James' version, a man
who reads his manuscript or who speaks from
44 THE MINISTRY OF
notes in fact, brethren, let us know what you
want and we will do our best to select a man of
such qualities, temperament, training, family, age,
and theological convictions as you may desire.
" ' Awaiting an opportunity to serve you, I am,
" ' Obediently yours,
" ' M. B. PORTER.' '
" That letter contains sense ! " exclaimed Driver.
"Good common sense," he added, reaching his
long arm across the table. The clerk placed the
letter in his hand. " It's nonsense, sheer non-
sense, this trusting the Lord to send us the right
man 1 I've always said that since the Lord has
given us brains he expects us to use them, in the
election of a minister as well as in the buying of
a horse."
" But," interposed Deacon Long, pained by the
words which sounded to his ears very like sac-
rilege, "calling a minister is different from buying
a horse ; it's the Lord's work ; * and how shall
they preach except they be sent ? ' "
" Upon your theory, Deacon," said Driver with
his characteristic impatience with Deacon Long,
" the Lord is interested in only a mighty little of
what's going on."
" Do you call the salvation of immortal souls a
trifling affair?" asked the deacon, almost choking.
" If you give the words the meaning they ought
to have, certainly not," replied Driver. " But it is
nonsense to think that God is interested only in
church work ! I wouldn't want anything to do
DAVID BALDWIN 45
with such a God." His tone and expression con-
veyed even more meaning than his word. " Why,
some men so belittle the Deity by their narrow,
bigotted conceptions of him that I wonder he lets
them live. When you wake up in the other
world, Deacon, I suspect you'll be surprised to
find that God is interested in many more things
than you ever dreamed of."
" I get my idea of God," rejoined the deacon,
"from the Bible ; I have no desire to feed on the
ungodly wisdom of this world, as some do. * Hath
not God made foolish the wisdom of this world ? ' '
Mr. Driver arose from his chair and began
pacing up and down the room, without deigning
to reply. Driver never could sit still very long
while discussing any matter with the deacon.
There was something in the deacon's manner or
in the spirit of his replies which seemed to make
Driver always want to walk the floor while talk-
ing with him.
During the interval of silence, Miss Adams, un-
winding her worsted a little, remarked :
" This Divinity School must be a very interest-
ing place."
" It certainly is ! " exclaimed Brand. " They
have Unitarians, and Universalists, and Catholics,
and Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Bap-
tists, Congregationalists, Disciples all mixed up
together! Is it any wonder in such a mixture,
our young ministers get to holding all sorts of
unscriptural beliefs? Why, it's the most natural
46 THE MINISTRY OF
thing in the world for them to become like their
associates. After living in such a mottled atmos-
phere for three years, the marvel is that any of
them remain true to any creed."
" Then you think that this Divinity School is
doing our denomination harm?" asked Mrs.
Wood.
" Harm ? " cried Brand, excitedly. " Why it
couldn't do us more harm. If I know anything
about it, it's undermining the very foundation of
our existence ! " He spoke with deep feeling and
earnestness.
"Indeed?"
" Yes ; and the churches are beginning to find
it out, too. Why, there are any number of churches
already which will not permit a graduate from this
school to enter their pulpit."
" Indeed ? I had not heard of this before. Pray
what is it that makes the school so dangerous ? "
" Oh, one can't exactly name it : the fact is the
whole Divinity School is out of harmony with our
inherited conceptions and doctrines. For one
thing, all the professors are Higher Critics,"
Mr. Brand pronounced the words "higher critics"
with the same intonation he would have used in
uttering the name of something exceedingly dia-
bolical.
" Are you sure, Brother Brand, that all the pro-
fessors there are Higher Critics ? " asked Deacon
Long, doubtfully. " I thought at least some of
them were Christians."
DAVID BALDWIN 47
" But may not a person be a Higher Critic and
also a Christian ? " asked Paul Green.
" I do not so understand it," replied Deacon
Long. " The Higher Critic seeks to destroy our
faith in the Bible. He cuts it to pieces ; he tears
it up ; he explains away this ; he throws out that ;
he would destroy the whole Bible if he could. And
can such a minded person be a Christian?" Ob-
viously, from the deacon's tone there could be
but one answer to his question.
"I'm not quite clear on the subject, myself,"
said Mrs. Terry. " But Pm sure, Deacon Long,
you carry your opinions a little too far."
" Impossible ! It's impossible to go too far in
defending the Word of God," cried the deacon.
" But we're all liable to be mistaken in our
opinions, Deacon Long," rejoined Mrs. Terry, em-
phatically.
"Yes," assented Miss Adams, to whom Mrs.
Terry had looked for support. Deacon Nelson,
also a member of the Standing Committee, but
seldom taking any part in the discussions, nodded
his approval to Mrs. Terry's statements.
"But tell me, Brother Brand, if this Divinity
School is, as you say, detrimental to the denomi-
nation, why do so many of our young ministers
go there?" asked Mrs. Wood, a perplexed look
settling upon her thoughtful face.
"Why do they go there?" repeated Brand.
" Why do you wear a certain style of hat ? Why ?
Because it's the fashion. And just now it's the
48 THE MINISTRY OF
fashion to attend the University of the West
From all over the United States our young min-
isters are flocking there with as little reason for
doing so as usually exists for following any of the
present day fads."
" But is not the instruction of a superior
grade?"
" What if it is ? That makes the matter only so
much the worse."
" How is that? I do not follow you."
" By their great intellectual ability these pro-
fessors are able to make their students believe al-
most anything."
"Indeed?"
" Yes ; they can take young men whose beliefs
on entering the Divinity School are sound, ortho-
dox, in full accord with the denomination, and in
three years make them over completely, filling
their heads with ideas no more in harmony with
our beliefs than black is like white ! "
" But Patterson writes in glowing terms of the
Divinity professors," said Paul. " You remember
he graduated here last year ? "
"That's just it!" exclaimed Brand. "These
professors by their great intellectual ability just
hypnotize their students."
" And I've heard it said," added Deacon Long
in a hoarse whisper, as if divulging some awful
secret, " I've heard it said that Dr. Hopper sends
souls to hell every day ! "
A look of horror settled on Miss Adams' face ;
DAVID BALDWIN 40
one of incredulity on the faces of the other two
ladies : while the corners of Mr. Strong's mouth
showed marked indications of suppressed merri-
ment. Strong, while in any of the business or
committee meetings of the church, rarely indulged
in levity ; but afterward in talking over these dis-
cussions with his wife, some of the things that
were said or done seemed very funny and afforded
no end of amusement. His wife more than once
told him that it must be the humorous side of
these meetings which kept him in such regular
attendance. He acknowledged to her that there
might be something in it.
"Perhaps, brethren," he interposed, "we'd better
pass on to the reading of the next letter. Of
course this discussion is very interesting ; but
* tempus fugit? What is the pleasure concerning
this letter from Dr. Porter ? "
" Suppose we ask Dr. Porter to send us an
itemized description of two or three good men of
the sociological type, I believe he said that type
was a specialty," said Driver.
" You make that as a motion ? " asked the chair-
man.
"Yes."
In the vote there was no opposition.
The remaining letters, similar to dozens they
had received, were disposed of with scarcely more
than a reading.
" What are we ever going to do ! " exclaimed
Mrs. Terry. "This continual listening to trial
50 THE MINISTRY OF
sermons is truly distracting I had almost said
demoralizing."
" I agree with you," said Mrs. Smith. " And
demoralizing is none too strong a word, either.
Indeed, you wouldn't think so if you could hear
the discussions at our dinner table, after every
Sunday morning service."
" Yes, it's the same with us. My family has re-
solved itself into a group of critics," continued
Mrs. Terry. " The way every candidate and his
sermon are discussed and torn to pieces is simply
awful. Such preaching doesn't do one particle of
good ! "
" I know it. One gets into the habit of being
critical. We are all feeling it," added Miss Adams.
" And our congregations are growing smaller
every week. Only yesterday Mrs. James said she
should not come any more until the church had
decided on a pastor."
" I hope we shall not lose the James family."
" But we will lose them and other desirable
families also, if this candidating keeps up much
longer," said Mrs. Strong, entering the room.
" If it wasn't for my husband I'd join some other
church next week, myself ! Our church is getting
into a terrible condition. I couldn't sit at home
any longer. I had to come to this committee
meeting. Something must be done ! "
Mrs. Strong's manner revealed her intense feel-
ing. She was a most interesting and unique per-
son, always saying or doing something unusual.
DAVID BALDWIN 51
" We are doing all in our power to settle a pas-
tor,'* objected Deacon Long. " More than a half
a dozen letters were considered this evening."
" But what good does it do ? What if you do
have man after man preach for us? Whenever
it comes to a vote what is the result ? We all
know it has been thrust upon us so often. What-
ever Brother Brand wants, Brother Driver is cer-
tain not to want. Why not deal with the real
question the obstinacy of these two men ? "
Various members of the committee assented,
highly pleased at Mrs. Strong's direct attack of the
real problem.
" So far as I can see there is no end in sight.
Recall our recent business meeting. Doubtless
Deacon Long would say that these two brothers
cannot help persistently opposing each other's
wishes * 'twas born in them, a part of their total
depravity/ Be that as it may, it is quite clear that
we shall never be able to decide on a pastor if this
continues."
Both Mr. Brand and Mr. Driver were amused at
Mrs. Strong's directness. They accepted from her
in good grace what no other woman would have
had the courage to utter in their presence.
It was Mr. Driver who spoke. " What sugges-
tion have you to make, Mrs. Strong ? "
" Why not let some one else propose a candi-
date?"
The idea was revolutionary. For more than a
quarter of a century the function of proposing can-
52 DAVID BALDWIN
didates had rested without question in the hands
of these two members.
" I have a name to propose," continued Mrs.
Strong. The members of the committee held
their breath. " You recall the young man who
preached for us last winter during our pastor's ill-
ness ? Yes, Mr. Baldwin. I suggest his name."
" I remember him well," said Paul Green.
" He impressed me very favorably."
" His sermons were so earnest," added Miss
Adams. " Do you suppose we could get him ?
Perhaps he is already settled."
Before the committee meeting closed, Mrs.
Strong's campaign, as it was styled, was well
under way. Mr. Baldwin became the all absorb-
ing topic of conversation. It was rather remark-
able how many of the characteristics of Mr. Bald-
win various persons were now able to recall.
In the business meeting which soon followed
both Mr. Driver and Mr. Brand expressed them-
selves in favor of Mrs. Strong's candidate. Mr.
Driver, however, was stubborn in his view that
their pastor should be married ; and so, to carry
their point, the others agreed to issue the remark-
able call which shortly afterward reached David
Baldwin.
IV
" f I ^IOGA, Minnesota, please."
After several minutes of waiting in
-* the long line before the ticket office
window, the speaker's turn had come.
The agent selected the proper ticket, stamped
it, and made the purchaser's change which he
pushed with the ticket toward the young man
standing before him. As he did this, his at-
tention was arrested. He looked sharply at the
young man for a moment, and as he turned to the
next person in the line an amused expression
played over his face. Plainly the agent was more
than ordinarily interested.
The young man had just gathered up his
change, depositing the coins in a little wallet
which he dropped into his trousers pocket on the
right hand side, while the bills were carefully
folded in a pocketbook which was returned to a
pocket in the inner side of his coat. There was
nothing unusual in his appearance as he stood
folding his ticket and putting it in his card-case.
His movements were rapid, almost automatic, in-
dicating an orderly mind in which the traces of
habit were apparent. Doubtless he had gone
through with these movements a hundred times
during the past few years as he had purchased his
railway tickets, putting the coins of his change
53
54: THE MINISTRY OF
into his trousers pocket on the right hand side,
the bills into the pocketbook, and the ticket into
the card-case.
In height this young man was neither tall nor
short perhaps about the average, with more than
the ordinary breadth of chest ; having a clean
shaven face save for a light mustache ; brown hair
with a scattering of gray on the temples ; eyes
which relieved the expression from being too se-
vere ; a chin such as men have who persist in a
certain line of effort though it takes years to ac-
complish their purpose ; lines about the mouth
which reveal acquaintance with suffering and
power to meet adverse circumstances ; the gen-
eral expression of one who could feel keenly the
pleasure of a word of appreciation or the pain of
harsh criticism. He easily wore the unmistakable
air of one accustomed to reflection, to living in
the realm of ideas, though he bore none of the
distinctive marks of the different professions. One
could not have said that he was a lawyer or a
doctor ; perhaps he was a teacher or a clergyman.
As the young man turned from the window and
took two or three steps away, he suddenly stopped
like one who had forgotten something, and then
tried to regain the place at the window which he
had just vacated ; but the line had pushed up and
this was impossible. How provoking ! He stood
waiting for a moment, as if loath to conform to
the inevitable ; then, walking to the end of the
line, took his place in it. With slow creeping
DAVID BALDWIN 55
movement the line edged on, gradually melting
away at the upper end.
" Another ticket to Tioga, Minnesota," said he,
when his turn came.
The agent smiled.
" Not used to buying tickets for two ? " said he,
good-naturedly.
" No," replied the young man.
"I knew it; I knew you'd be back in a few
minutes for another," he laughed.
"Indeed! How is that?" asked the young
man, smiling.
" Oh, lots of newly married men make the same
mistake," said the agent, enjoying the other's em-
barrassment.
" Newly married men ? " repeated the traveler.
" Certainly, it's no uncommon occurrence for a
bridegroom to forget to buy a ticket for his
wife."
" But what makes you think I belong to that
class to the newly married ? "
"Three tickets to St. Paul, please," said the
gentleman next in the line ; and the young man
stepped aside without getting an answer.
"I wish I knew how that agent got on to it,"
was his thought as he crossed the floor to the
ladies' waiting-room.
" Why, David, how long you were ! " exclaimed
a young lady, whose eager eyes welcomed him as
he approached her side. " I was becoming
alarmed : is anything wrong with the trains ? "
56 THE MINISTRY OF
" Oh, no," he replied, drawing a chair near her.
" Our connections are all right. We leave Chicago
in thirty-five minutes."
" But, dear, why were you so long?"
" Well, I hardly know whether I should tell you
or not," said David, laughing. " It certainly was
a good joke on me."
The young lady looked into his face but said
nothing. She felt that a fuller disclosure was com-
ing.
" I came pretty near going to Tioga alone," he
began.
" Alone ? " laying her hand lightly on his arm.
Even the suggestion of it startled her.
" Yes," he confessed. " I took my place in the
line and when my turn came, you cannot guess
what I did?"
"Tell me, David, what was it?" she asked,
eagerly.
" Well, being accustomed for so many years to
buying only one ticket, I forgot, for the moment,
that I now needed to buy two."
" Why, David 1 " with the slightest trace of re-
proach in her tone. " You surely didn't forget
that you had a wife 1 "
" Not exactly that, Miriam," said he ; "but I did
forget that I had to buy two tickets. The agent
was greatly amused. He said that many newly
married men did the same thing."
" Newly married men ? How did he know that
we were on our wedding trip? "
DAVID BALDWIN 57
" I wanted to ask him myself, but the next pas-
senger took his attention."
" But the people on the train to Chicago took us
for an old couple, don't you think so ? "
" If they didn't, it certainly wasn't our fault,"
replied David. " At least it wasn't mine. Didn't
I act as if I had enjoyed the training of domesticity
for a dozen years ? "
" Oh, I am sure that no one took us for bride
and groom," said Miriam. " Some bridal couples
act so foolishly ! "
There are some things, however, which nature
evidently intends shall not be concealed, among
which are the starry heavens, the perfume of the
carnation, and the presence of a bridal party.
And the truth of the matter is, that David
and Miriam's attempts to pose as an old married
couple deceived no one, and on their way to
Chicago they had afforded no little merriment to
their fellow passengers. But ignorance is bliss
under such circumstances.
After David Baldwin received the letter from the
First Church of Tioga, he lost no time in bringing
it to the attention of a certain young woman who,
he rightly surmised, would be almost equally in-
terested in it with himself. In fact following his
chum's hint he had come to regard the letter as
a double favor of providence. It would provide
him with a pastorate immediately upon gradua-
tion, and it would also prove a formidable weapon
58 THE MINISTRY OF
in overcoming the scruples of his fiancee against
an immediate marriage.
He had known Miriam Mathews since high
school days, and their early comradery there had
ripened into deep mutual affection. When they
were graduated, indeed, his love had carried him
to such bounds that he urged her to consent to a
hasty marriage. But Miriam's good sense per-
ceived that it would mean the curtailing of his
whole career. She steadfastly refused, although
her own heart pleaded for him ; while on his part
he was hurt almost to anger.
But with calmer moments David could not but
see her wisdom, although it doomed him to
separation from her for at least seven years. The
four years in the University, however, were at last
ended ; and the three years in the Divinity school
as well. Meanwhile, not to lose intellectual pace
with him, Miriam had pluckily worked her way
through Vassar, and was now paying off the re-
mainder of her school debt by the stenography al-
ready mentioned. It is small wonder, therefore,
that David should have been so jubilant over the
call to Tioga, which his old-time friend, Mrs.
Strong, had secured for him. It was, in effect, a
command to marry, and he believed that Miriam
would no longer be able to resist his plea, when
backed by such convincing proof of the necessity
for the step.
When Miriam first read the letter the church at
DAVID BALDWIN 59
Tioga had written to David she was convulsed
with laughter.
" Did they not ask for a minute description, or
at least to see a photograph of your intended ? "
she asked. " You know, churches are sometimes
more particular about the minister's wife than they
are about the minister himself."
" No, they did not ask for a detailed description.
I wish they had 1 " he exclaimed. " Think of the
letter I could have written! Who could help
satisfying the most exacting critics when one has
such a subject?" And David carried the hand of
his sweetheart to his lips.
" Be not too certain of that," said Miriam. " I
have in mind an instance where an accurate de-
scription of myself would have been disastrous."
" Diastrous ? "
" Yes," replied Miriam, " disastrous to your set-
tlement. It was this way : one of my friends at
Vassar recently married a clergyman. On one oc-
casion when he was to preach a trial sermon, Mar-
garet accompanied her husband. Though the
church was highly pleased with the sermon and
found no fault with the young man, they did not
call him ; and the reason why leaked out a few
weeks later."
"You mean they did not like his wife?" asked
David.
11 There seemed to be one insuperable objection
to her: she has red hair."
60 THE MINISTRY OF
"But no church would refuse to call a man whom
they wanted, simply because his wife happened to
have red hair ! " said David, incredulously.
"Are you sure this is not an ungrounded
rumor ? "
"Indeed I am!" cried Miriam. "I have it
directly from my Aunt Julia who is a member of
the church where it occurred. She knew my ac-
quaintance with Margaret Mr. Jackson's wife
and wrote me that Mr. Jackson would certainly have
been called had his name been brought before the
church ; but the chairman of the pulpit committee
vigorously opposed bringing it up. Reluctantly
the other two members of the committee yielded,
though they were puzzled to account for their
chairman's attitude. Inadvertently the reason for
it came to light. The chairman's wife was a
woman of very strong prejudices, one of the
strongest of which was her prejudice against red
hair."
" I see," said David. "It is fortunate that I did
not write the church at Tioga a full description
of you ; perhaps there are some important women
there also who have strong prejudices," he
laughed.
" But, David, if the church knows of your en-
gagement they will not object to waiting a year
for us to be married. It will take another year to
pay off my school debt, you know."
" I hardly think they would wait," said David.
" But my debt I must meet this before we are
DAVID BALDWIN 61
married. It would not be right to encumber our
future this way."
David wisely refrained from discussing the sub-
ject further just then. He described the work
which he hoped to do at Tioga ; how the several
hundred students at the university, whose religious
difficulties he understood so well, appealed to him ;
how he thought of having a student's class where
he could come into closer touch with these young
men and women, than it would be possible to do
in the more formal services. Doubtless the field
had its difficulties what church did not have
them? But the opening had come to him un-
sought when everything else seemed closed. Was
it not providential ? If he did not settle with the
Tioga church perhaps he would receive another
call, but the salary would not be more than
seven or eight hundred many of the fellows began
their first pastorate on even less salary than that
" Why, dearest," said he, eagerly, and as if the
thought had not been uppermost in his mind all the
evening, "the two hundred extra at Tioga would
pay your school debt during our first year there.
Suppose we called the salary only eight hundred
for the first year reserving two hundred for this
special purpose ? Would it not be better for us to
go to Tioga than for me to run the risk of not get-
ting another call ? "
"Are you quite sure we could reserve the two
hundred during the first year?" asked Miriam,
hesitatingly.
62 THE MINISTRY OF
" Why not ? We would then have as much to
live on as I would probably get elsewhere."
Miriam thought of the seven years which had
passed since David's first proposal ; how he had
waited so long in deference to her wishes, as it now
appeared to her. If she could be sure that her
school debt would be no encumbrance how her
heart thrilled with the thought of it ! Another year
was a long time to wait. Surely, they could live
on eight hundred ; and after the first year there
would be the entire amount the ten hundred.
" There would be some advantages in begin-
ning our work together," said Miriam, medita-
tively.
" Then you consent to our marriage during the
summer?" he cried, every nerve taut with
suspense.
" If you desire it, dearest," she replied, in a low
tone, more gracious, more thrilling than human
voice had ever sounded to him before.
" My darling ! This is more than I deserve," he
cried.
" Oh, I am so happy, David ! " she breathed, as
he drew her gently to him. " And I am so glad
we are not to wait another year," looking up into
his eyes.
For answer what else could he do ? his head
bent a little forward and his lips drew down to a
level with hers ; the old, old miracle was performed
again a touch of lips was transmuted into one of
the most blissful experiences of life 1
DAVID BALDWIN 63
The train bearing David Baldwin and his bride
to their unexplored field of labor was rushing" on
toward the great Northwest. The heat of an
August day beat down upon them ; the atmosphere
was dry and filled with dust.
A mother with a restless little baby sat just in
front of David and Miriam, on the opposite side of
the aisle. The woman was scarcely twenty, with
low forehead, retreating chin, and large nose ; her
mouth was sensitive and her eyes kindly in their
look as she gazed upon her babe ; her expression
indicated a low grade of intelligence, a mind in
which there was much fallow ground ; hers was the
minimum of preparation for the responsibilities
of motherhood which she had thoughtlessly in-
vited or had had thrust upon her. The child
grew more restless and cried louder and louder.
The poor mother tried in vain to soothe it.
" Let me take the baby," said Miriam, crossing
to the mother's side. " You are tired. Let me re-
lieve you."
The mother looked into Miriam's face, then
yielded the infant willingly.
" Have you traveled far ? " Miriam continued.
" From New York before then, from old coun-
try," she answered, brokenly, with a strong for-
eign accent.
"Alone, and with this baby?" asked Miriam, in
surprise.
" Yes," replied the woman.
" No wonder you are tired out"
64 THE MINISTRY OF
The little babe was soon asleep in Miriam's
arms ; and as she returned it to the mother, the
woman's mute look of gratitude stirred her heart.
"I have been thinking, David," Miriam said,
after she had resumed her seat by her husband's
side, " I have been thinking of what the church
people will probably say when they know that I
am not a member of any church."
" We shall let them think whatever they please,"
replied David. " So long as I am satisfied, I'm
sure they ought to be."
" I hope they won't expect too much of me,"
she continued, " for I want to give my best energy
to our own home life."
" And that, dear, is just what I wish you to do.
" If any man needs the inspiration of his home, it's
a pastor. I shall never consent to any church's
robbing me of my wife."
"I think you said that the church does not
have a parsonage."
" No ; we shall have to rent a small house, or
perhaps a flat."
" Should we not rent as cheaply as possible for
the first year or two? there will be so many
things for us to buy."
" Yes, I think so," said David.
" Of course it will not matter to the church
where we live, so long as they have no parsonage."
"Certainly not; though I suppose churches
prefer to have their pastors live in good houses
and in a desirable quarter of the community."
DAVID BALDWIN 65
" Yes, doubtless such a feeling is natural."
"But I have been thinking, Miriam, of trying
to get a house where we could be in close touch
with the uneducated and the poorer class of people ;
and of carrying out the settlement idea on a small
scale."
" Wouldn't that be grand ! " cried Miriam. " I
do hope we may."
" But, dearest, it would put us to many incon-
veniences."
" Yes ; but the Christ put up with many incon-
veniences by living among the lowly, did he not ? "
" And the members of the church would be sure
to criticise such a step."
" But should we mind what people say about 'us
when we are attempting to live the Christ life ? "
asked Miriam.
" I know ; but it's difficult not to mind," replied
David. " In many ways I wish we were going to
a social settlement : that kind of work appeals to
me very strongly, and I know your desires, dear,
are in the same direction. But the pastorate of
this church is before us now, and our first obliga-
tion will be to minister to the spiritual needs of
the church ; to get the members interested in some
definite lines of Christian service ; and to do what
we can to help as many of the students as possible
with their religious problems."
" Is the church open to modern thought ? " asked
Miriam.
" I can only judge from what they have done
66 THE MINISTRY OF
knowing that I am from the University of the
West, and having heard me preach four sermons
which I considered full of modern thought, they
have invited me to become their pastor. From
this one would judge that they are liberal."
"I am glad. I think it is very fortunate. I
fear, David, if you were to become pastor of a
church as conservative as the one at my home,
some very serious problems might arise."
" But I have no fears of any such thing happen-
ing at Tioga. Its being a University town makes
a great difference. But even if the circumstances
were otherwise, even if I were going to a conserv-
ative church, I should be compelled to deliver
the message as it burns in my heart. As I think
of it, the function of a minister is to bear witness
to the truth rather than to preach to people only
what they have been accustomed to hearing. As
Christ bore witness to the truth and was not care-
ful to present only such views as were in accord
with the opinions of his day, so the Christian
minister should bear witness to the truth as it
burns in his own heart. His work is worthy only
as he delivers the message that possesses him."
"I am so glad, David, that you think as you do
on these subjects. How I shall delight to hear
you preach ! " And Miriam's hand edged down
to the side of David's. " For so many years ser-
mons haven't meant much to me." Her hand
slipped into his. " But I know yours will." There
was a gentle pressure. " I shall always delight to
DAVID BALDWIN 67
listen to you, dearest; you have made so many
of my own thoughts clearer to me."
" Now you are feeding me taffy," said David,
returning the pressure with interest "My first
lessons in modern religious thought I received
from you, dearest; it was from you that I first
learned the meaning of redemptive suffering, that
love suffers in saving because it cannot do other-
wise."
The possession of Miriam's hand thrilled David
like a draught of wine. Forgotten were his reso-
lutions to appear like one who had been married
a long time ; and during their remaining two
hours' ride, he was a bridegroom. And the joy
of it was disturbed only by their arrival at their
destination.
"Tioga!" finally announced the brakeman,
ending their present dream of bliss. Gathering
up their belongings, they made their way through
the busy station to the street
They had arrived unannounced save for David's
having written to Mrs. Meek to engage a suite of
rooms, and to Mr. Strong to assure the church
of his intention of being present for the next Sun-
day's services.
" A gentleman in the parlor, sir, wishes to see
you," said Mrs. Meek, as David and Miriam were
leaving the dining-room that same evening.
" I'll be up within a minute or two, dear," said
David, as Miriam passed on to their rooms alone ;
68 THE MINISTRY OF
and following Mrs. Meek to the parlor, David en-
tered. A tall young man with bushy black hair
arose to meet him.
" The Reverend David Baldwin, I believe," said
the young man, advancing and offering his own
card.
"Yes," said David. A glance at the card in-
formed him that his caller was a newspaper re-
porter. It was the first time he had been sought
out by a representative of the press ; and a highly
pleasurable emotion swelled his breast.
" Pardon me, Reverend, but with your permis-
sion I would like to ask a few questions," said the
reporter, opening his note-book. " I'll promise
you, Reverend, not to be long," he added apolo-
getically.
" Very well," said David, sitting down. " I can
spare a moment or two," glancing at his watch.
Since entering the room his time had become more
precious. As soon as we find that another person
wants anything belonging to us an old book, a
bit of china, or our time it immediately rises in
value in our own estimation.
" Our readers, Reverend," began the reporter,
in an easy, off-hand manner, " will want to know
something of the new pastor who has just come
among us. Now, Reverend, if you will write up
an account of yourself, I will send for it any hour
you name before midnight ; just so we have it at the
office by midnight, that's time enough. And in
this account, Reverend," the reporter's voice came
DAVID BALDWIN 69
down to a confidential tone and he drew his chair
a little nearer David, " we would like to have you
include any particulars about yourself which you
care to have published some statements of your
education, your personal attitude on any of the re-
ligious problems of the hour. In fact, write any-
thing you please. The public, you know, is inter-
ested in ministers; and, of course, the more we
know of them, the better. At what hour, Rev-
erend, could you have the copy ready ?"
" I but isn't your request a little unusual this
writing up one's self ? " asked David, doubtingly.
" Oh, no, Reverend ; on the contrary, it is a very
common practice," the reporter hastened to ex-
plain. " But," he added, lowering his tone, " the
fact that a man has written up himself is, of course,
never made public. Our readers, Reverend, never
stop to ask how we get our information. Shall I
send for it at, say, eleven ? or would you wish a
little more time?"
David hesitated. The opportunity did indeed
appeal to him. Already, in imagination, he saw
in to-morrow morning's paper an account of him-
self, modestly written to be sure, yet containing
some little touches which a reporter would most
probably fail to bring out in writing up an inter-
view. Why should he not write the account?
Did not the reporter say the practice was a com-
mon one ? The public was interested in the new
pastor. Would it not be better to write up a full
and accurate account of himself than to trust
TO THE MINISTRY OF
to the uncertain statements the reporter might
make?
These thoughts flashed through David's mind
in an instant ; but as he opened his lips to say that
he would gather together a few statements which
might interest the readers of the Times, the thought
of Miriam arrested him. Instantly her judgment
on the matter stood out before him. Very clearly,
very definitely, without the suspicion of a doubt,
David saw that she would condemn the act.
" I am sorry to refuse you sorry that I cannot
serve your readers in the way you ask, Mr. Waller,"
said David, courteously ; " but I cannot write the
account. "
"I'm sorry, Reverend, very sorry ; for you could
work up the copy much more to your own satis-
faction than I can. However, I'm used to making
a stab at such things. You- arrived in the city this
evening?"
" Yes."
"Mrs. Baldwin accompanied you?"
" Yes."
" This was your wedding trip also, was it not ? "
"Yes," said David, smiling.
" You are a graduate of a divinity school ? "
" Yes."
"At the University of the West?" asked the
reporter.
" Yes," said David again.
" Then this is your first pastorate, is it not, Rev-
erend?"
DAVID BALDWIN 71
" Yes."
" But you have preached more or less before
this?"
"Yes."
" Did you not preach here two or three times last
winter ? "
"Yes."
" And the church extended their call from hav-
ing heard you then ? "
" Yes," assented David.
" Then you are comparatively a stranger in our
midst, Reverend ? "
" Yes."
Both men laughed. The cumulative effect of
David's answers was becoming humorous.
" Would you mind, Reverend, stating the year
of your birth ? " asked the reporter.
" I am twenty-nine years old and was born in
Georgia," replied David.
" Indeed ? Have you lived in the North long,
Reverend ? "
" Since my fifth year."
After asking several other questions the re-
porter rose to leave. " Oh, I nearly forgot one
item," said he, opening his note-book again.
" Your subject for Sunday, Reverend may I get
its exact wording ? "
" Certainly," said David. " My theme for the
morning will be The Contagion of Life."
" A very interesting topic, Reverend ; a very
interesting topic. Think i shall have to drop in
72 THE MINISTRY OF
and hear what you have to say on it, though to
tell the truth, Reverend, I am not over-fond of
sermons."
" I shall be very glad to have you worship with
us Sunday morning," said David.
" Thank you, Reverend," said the reporter, ex-
tending his hand. " And as a representative of
the Times I am glad to welcome you to our thriv-
ing little city. Good-night, Reverend. Many
thanks for the interview."
" Good-night," said David. And he hurried up
to Miriam.
" To think, sweetheart, that I was detained for
a half hour 1 " exclaimed David, kissing his bride
as he entered the room.
" Only a half hour ? Why, dearest, it seemed
two hours ! " said Miriam. " And I was begin-
ning to be a little impatient with the man who
was keeping you. I was beginning to dislike
deacons "
" Deacons ? " laughed David.
" Why wasn't he one of the deacons of the
church ? Who else would think of searching us
out so soon ? " asked Miriam.
" No, he was not one of the deacons, only a
newspaper reporter," replied David carelessly, as
if being interviewed by a reporter was a matter of
common occurrence with him. " He wanted to
get the subject of my sermon for Sunday morning
and also a few facts for a little notice in the paper."
And he pulled up an easy chair in front of
DAVID BALDWIN 73
Miriam and stretched himself into it. Both were
tired, for they had been traveling since Wednes-
day noon, having taken the train immediately after
an early wedding dinner at Miriam's home. This
was their first hour alone since their marriage.
" Well, sweetheart," said David, as he settled
himself into a comfortable position, " we are here
at last. And how does the little girl feel pretty
tired ? "
" Oh, no, not very tired ; the time passed so
quickly."
" But think, sweetheart, what a long and lonely
journey it would have been if I'd had to come
alone," said David.
" Are you sure, David, that you would have
missed me so much ? " Miriam asked, her face
suffused with tenderness, her eyes lifted for a
moment to his. What bride does not delight in
the reiteration of her husband's devotion, how-
ever much she may be assured of it ? But why
should this be? why should not one declaration
be sufficient ? Why does a woman's heart crave
to be told again and again what she already
knows that she is dearer to her husband than all
the rest of the world besides ? But the ways of a
woman's heart have always been past finding out.
A mystery to herself, woman is a deeper mystery
to man. It was so with the ancients ; it is more
profoundly true of us moderns. For with our
increase of knowledge the mystery has but
deepened.
IT was Sunday morning, and Miriam was pre-
paring her toilet for church.
" Say, dear ? " she called.
" Well, sweetheart ? " answered David from be-
yond the portieres, in their little sitting-room.
"Am I interrupting you in your studying?"
she asked.
" Of course not, sweetheart," said David, put-
ting his finger on the line where he had stopped
in the reading of his manuscript. " Do you want
anything ? "
" Why, dear," continued Miriam, as she went on
with the making of her toilet, "if I'm not inter-
rupting you to ask, how long does it take to walk
to the church ? "
"Why, not long; only about ten minutes,
sweetheart," answered David, at the same time
glancing over the remainder of the page of his
sermon. " Yes, I remember from having walked
it last winter; it takes just about ten minutes."
His eyes began moving rapidly over the next page.
"Then, dear, suppose we start so as to get
there just on time ? " called Miriam.
" Very well, sweetheart, if you wish," said
David, scanning the contents of another page as
he answered.
74
DAVID BALDWIN Y5
Miriam wished on this their first Sunday in
Tioga to avoid the embarrassment of sitting in
church several minutes before the opening of the
services, a conscious target to many a pair of
curious eyes ; so they waited until ten-twenty, ten
minutes before the opening of the service, before
they left their room.
The morning was warm, the last Sunday in
August. But Central Avenue was so well shaded
that it was scarcely necessary to carry a parasol,
though Miriam had brought along her dainty
affair, with its white handle and its lavender
colored silk and lace. The streets had been
sprinkled earlier in the morning and there was no
dust. The air was fragrant with a mixed perfume
of many late blossoms and shrubs; among the
trees the birds were still chirping, though with
less volume than two or three hours before ; while
up the trunk of a tree here and there squirrels
scampered as David and Miriam approached.
Miriam was modestly dressed in white. Her
face was full and rosy with just a trifle more color
this morning than usual. In height she was a little
under the average for a woman. Walking by her
side David appeared tall, though he was not. In
his hand he carried his study Bible, the revised
version not bound in limp cover, and a hymn book.
He was dressed in full clerical attire, with white
tie, white linen waistcoat, Prince Albert coat, and
enameled shoes.
According to his custom, David was meditating
76 THE MINISTRY OF
on his opening prayer as he walked along ; and in
so doing he lost himself to the extent that he quite
forgot to suit his pace to Miriam's, until he was a
step or two ahead of her.
" Pardon me, sweetheart ! " he cried, as he
noticed this. " Am I walking too fast for the little
girl?"
" Dear, I'm trying my best to keep up," panted
Miriam, who was becoming heated.
They walked on more slowly, David carefully
suiting his gait to Miriam's.
" If there isn't the last bell I " he exclaimed,
when they were yet several blocks from the
church.
" Why, dear, I thought you said we could walk
it in ten minutes ? " said Miriam anxiously.
" Ten minutes of my strides, I should have said,"
answered David, grimly.
" But we'll be late, dear," said Miriam. " Hadn't
you better go on ahead, David ? "
"No," said David, "a minute or two will not
make much difference."
On they walked. Were blocks ever before so
long? And what a slow method of getting over
the ground walking was, anyway ! At last they
reached the church door, and handing Miriam to
one of the ushers, David went through the lecture-
room to the pastor's study, where two of the deacons
were awaiting him. Deacon Long was holding his
watch in his hand.
" I fear I'm a little late," said David hurriedly,
DAVID BALDWIN 77
as he shook hands with the brethren. " But I've
learned," said he, as he wiped the perspiration from
his brow, "if it takes one person ten minutes to
walk to church, it will take two nearly twice as
long."
" When a man gets married," observed Deacon
Nelson, " he has many new lessons to learn."
" It's now four minutes late," said Deacon Long,
consulting his watch. "Perhaps you had better
go in at once. The congregation is waiting."
David stepped toward the door leading to the
pulpit.
" But shall we not have our usual prayer first?"
asked Deacon Nelson.
For many years Deacon Nelson had found his
chief enjoyment of the Sunday services in meeting
the pastor before the morning sermon and having
a short season of prayer. On several occasions
when too ill to leave the house during the week,
he would be well enough to attend church Sunday
morning, for he had set his heart upon it. And the
first Sunday with a new pastor was a red letter
day with the deacon, an occasion toward which he
would look forward for weeks, brooding the while
over the petition he would then offer.
David knew something of Deacon Nelson's
custom, and seeing the pained look on the old
gentleman's face, he said,
" Certainly, Deacon Nelson. The congregation
can wait a moment longer. Will you please lead
us?"
78 THE MINISTRY OF
They knelt and Deacon Nelson prayed. Though
an unlettered man, rude of speech in ordinary con-
versation, the deacon's language when praying was
beautiful ; the sentiment of the prayer was tender
and sympathetic. Under other circumstances
David would have wished the deacon to continue
praying as long as he desired : the prayer was so
unusual in its inspirational power. But there was
the waiting congregation ! And this fact turned
the eloquence of the deacon's petition into a scald-
ing stream, torturing poor David instead of blessing
him. But the deacon also was conscious of the
waiting audience, and with effort kept down the
rising flow of words ; and when the prayer was
finished David added a fervent "Amen," the
meaning of which was by no means limited to the
sanctioning of the deacon's prayer. Glancing
nervously at his watch as he rose from his knees,
David saw that he was seven and a half minutes
late. In not the best frame of mind to meet his
congregation, he stepped through the doorway and
took his seat behind the pulpit.
During the anthem before the sermon he re-
gained his composure sufficiently to glance over
the audience. A lady with a large black hat
moved a little to one side. David thought he saw
a familiar face. Could it be possible that the
portly gentleman sitting there was Dr. Graham,
president of Greene College ? For a moment the
lady's hat intercepted David's view, then it moved
to one side again. There was no doubting it
DAVID BALDWIN 70
there sat the genial doctor, one of the best preach-
ers in the church. In another direction where the
faces were nearly all strange, David detected an-
other familiar face. Shades of the patriarchs ! if
there wasn't Dr. Harmon, one of his divinity pro-
fessors. In other parts of the audience David
recognized three more well-known clergymen.
Though David knew that Tioga was something
of a summer resort, with easy access to good fish-
ing and boating, he had never dreamed of having
to preach before such men.
Already embarrassed because he had kept the
congregation waiting so long, David's propensity
to perspire received a new impetus as he saw
these eminent clergymen sitting before him.
Every pore in his body seemed like a bubbling
spring. From his temples a little stream of per-
spiration trickled down the side of his face ; his
collar grew less and less able to maintain an up-
right position.
At this juncture the anthem was finished and
the time for the sermon had come. David arose,
and opening his study Bible to the tenth chapter
of John's Gospel, read the tenth verse as his text
As he did so, he noticed Mr. Waller, the reporter,
in one of the pews to the extreme left, begin
to take short-hand notes. This was David's first
experience in being reported ; in an instant as he
saw Mr. Waller, he forgot the introductory sen-
tences of his sermon. Without hesitation, how-
ever, he re-read the text and again announced its
80 THE MINISTRY OF
location. He glanced hurriedly at his notes ; he
never carried his manuscript into the pulpit ; but
his outline was meaningless to him as he now
looked at it
What should he do ? He could not recall a
single word he had intended to say. And worse
than this he could not remember any of the ideas
of his introduction. The whole section was a
blank. Stepping to one side of the pulpit with as
much deliberation as if he had planned to do so,
David said :
"My friends "
A hush passed over the congregation. Every
face turned toward him. Here and there persons
leaned a little to one side to get a better view of
the speaker. David looked over the audience as
a speaker does sometimes when he is waiting for
the people to get very still. The audience before
David, save for the slight noise produced by the
fans, became quiet. David had not the remotest
idea what he should say next ; but the occasion
demanded that something should be said and said
at once. Though the interval since he had pro-
nounced the first two words seemed painfully long
to him, it was in reality no longer than a breath.
As if continuing what he had planned to say,
David went on :
" for ten years I have been looking for-
ward to this moment."
Oh, what a falsehood ! He had never, never
looked forward to such a moment as this. How
DAVID BALDWIN 81
different the moment was from anything he had
ever expected ! The people were all attention.
Deacon Long, sitting in the rear of the house, was
holding his right hand up to his ear to assist his
hearing. Again it seemed to David that he had
made a pause of intolerable length when in reality
it was no longer than the other. The words had
escaped him. He hardly knew how or why.
Now they must be followed up by some statement.
But what should it be? What? Again David
spoke.
" For the first time since I began studying for
the ministry," were the words that came. But
how should he finish the sentence ? Should he
frankly confess that for the first time since he
began speaking in public his senses had failed
him ? Perhaps it would be best to make this ex-
planation and dismiss the audience. No, no ; the
humiliation of it would crush him. But how to
finish that sentence? This debating in David's
mind having occupied no more time than it takes
to make a natural pause in the middle of a sen-
tence, the speaker, struggling to finish the sentence
in a way which would not appear utterly senseless,
said :
" it is possible "
Of all the possibilities imaginable which one
should it be ? was the thought in David's mind
as the word " possible" escaped from his lips.
But quick as a flash, without any perceptible hesi-
tation, the sentence was finished with these words :
82 THE MINISTRY OF
" for me to think of myself as a pastor and
of a congregation as my people."
The fog had lifted. As David uttered these
words his mind cleared. He knew what he had
said and now continued for a moment along the
same line, telling the congregation how much he
had looked forward during all of his student years
to the time when he should be a pastor ; how he
had almost envied those pastors who had held a
large place in the sympathy and prayers of a
church. And now that this opportunity had come
to him, the privilege of being a pastor, he asked
for a place in the affection of his people, and to be
upheld by their prayers and their sympathy.
As if all of this had been planned and was now
out of the way, David turned to his sermon. The
subject was one which possessed him " the con-
tagion of life." By a gradual approach he led up
to the statements that the great need of the world
is spiritual health, and that this could be attained
by the individual who would place his life daily
by the side of that of the Christ ; that this assimila-
tion of the thought and the spirit of the Christ is
salvation ; and that as Christ is the perfect source
of spiritual health, so his followers should be
sources in themselves, each in some worthy
measure imparting spiritual health to the lives that
are nearest.
During the delivery of the sermon David was
above his average ; indeed, seldom had his thoughts
so pressed for expression ; seldom had he been
DAVID BALDWIN 83
carried into such flights of imagination and impas-
sioned oratory. The glow of utterance was upon
him; and, as if an illustration of the central
thought of the discourse, the audience caught
something of the speaker's glow and enjoyed it
with him.
At the close of the service David mingled with
the people in the rear of the church, shaking
hands with as many as he could as they passed
out. Dr. Harmon greeted him warmly.
" I wish to express my appreciation of the service,
Mr. Baldwin," said he. " I am well pleased with
it all, but especially with your opening remarks
which were all the more effective for being spon-
taneous and unstudied."
David did not think it worth while to make a
confession just then. As he joined Miriam who,
under the charge of Mrs. Strong, had been meet-
ing several of the ladies of the church, he was told
that they were invited to go home with Mrs. Strong
for dinner.
VI
IF it were possible for a pastor to become both
invisible and omnipresent, and thus on Sun-
day morning at the close of the service ac-
company each of his hearers home, what do you
think would be the state of his mind after an hour
or two ? What do you think would be the state of
your pastor's mind ? How do you suppose you
would feel, if you were a clergyman, to hear re-
marks about the way you combed your hair, or, if
you happened to have but little hair, to hear your
bald spot discussed what a pity your hair is get-
ting thin, how did it happen ? did it come from
over-study ? too bad for a clergyman to have a
bald spot ! flies were always so annoying to minis-
ters with bald heads ; to hear further remarks and
sundry observations about your ears, your nose,
your teeth, your eyes, your hands, your, feet, the
shoes you wore, your height, your breadth, your
voice, your gestures, your way of sitting down,
your manner of getting up, your way of standing
too much on one foot or your feet were too far
apart the length of your prayers, the length of
your discourse, your diction, your enunciation,
your way of reading the Scripture, your manner of
announcing the hymns, how you opened the serv-
ice, how you closed it, how you looked up or how
you looked down, your peculiar way of closing
84
DAVID BALDWIN 85
your mouth ; to hear opinions, quite the opposite to
what you hold, attributed to you ; to hear your own
thoughts, dear to you because your own mental off-
spring, repeated in such mutilated forms as to be
scarcely recognizable ; to hear comparisons drawn
between you and the Reverend Blank ; to hear
your family freely discussed how your wife was
dressed, and how she looked better than usual,
or was she not just a trifle paler ? It was too bad
her health wasn't better ; to hear some of your
audience speaking in extravagant praise of your-
self and of your sermon, while others were unable
to see why the good Lord had ever put it into
your head to preach at all ; to hear violent argu-
ments over whether you had said this or that,
whether you were not too conservative or too
liberal, et cetera, adinfinitum ; how do you suppose
you would feel to hear yourself discussed in this
way?
"But," you reply, "a clergyman doesn't know
what is being said about him, and if it does the
people any good, why let them talk."
Let it be hoped that these discussions and re-
marks about ministers do accomplish some good ;
but is it true that clergymen are unaware of what
the members of their congregation are saying of
them? They may be for a time, but sooner or
later it filters through unsuspected channels to the
ears of the pastor or the pastor's wife. Of course
this is all very well so long as the pastor is
in high favor ; it is likely he can do better work if
86 THE MINISTRY OF
he knows that his efforts are appreciated. But
when dissatisfaction has arisen, the channels un-
fortunately are still open ; and few conditions in
life are more painful than that of a clergyman's,
when the tide of popular favor has turned against
him.
As the congregation was leaving the church
after David's first sermon as pastor, Mr. Driver,
coming out of the lecture-room where, before the
service, he usually left his hat and Sunday mail,
accosted Deacon Long.
" Well, deacon," said .he, tapping him lightly
on the shoulder, /'that was what I call a down-
right sensible sermon. None of your pious non-
sense in that discourse, eh ? "
"The sermon was very good," replied the
deacon, " very good ; at least what I heard of it
was. But don't you think he talks too low ? In
the back of the church where I was sitting, one
could scarcely hear half what he said."
"Nonsense!" returned Driver. "The young
man has a very good voice. But say, deacon,
people who are hard of hearing shouldn't sit in
the extreme rear of the church."
" But Pm not hard of hearing," replied Deacon
Long, quickly. " I can hear very well anywhere
in the church if the speaker has a good voice."
Mr. Driver laughed as he passed on. He had
his own opinion of the sermon and cared very
little what other people thought of it. Not so
DAVID BALDWIN 87
with Deacon Long. He was not always certain
whether he liked a sermon or not until he had
heard various remarks about it and had talked it
over with his wife. Sometimes it was nearly the
middle of the week before he came to any definite
conclusion. So while waiting to hear what some
of the other members might say, he met Mr.
Strong.
" Well, Deacon Long, how did you enjoy the
sermon this morning?" said Mr. Strong, shaking
the deacon's hand which moved up and down not
unlike a pump-handle. " Fine discourse, wasn't
it?"
"Better than I expected," acknowledged the
deacon ; "at least so far as I yes, it was very
good," said he, changing his sentence.
" Wasn't that a grand sermon ! " exclaimed
Mrs. Harrington, approaching the two gentlemen.
"And I'm glad we have at last got a minister
progressive enough to use the Revised Version."
"The deacon and I were just saying how much
we enjoyed the discourse," said Mr. Strong.
" Yes, it was better than I had expected," re-
peated the deacon ; " at least what yes, I liked
it very well," said he.
"Good-morning, Deacon Long," said Mrs.
Terry, a moment later. " It seems nice to have
a pastor again, doesn't it? I enjoyed the sermon
so much ! How did you like it ? "
" Good-morning, Mrs. Terry ; good-morning,
Deacon Long," said Miss Irving, breaking in
88 THE MINISTRY OF
before the deacon had time to reply. " Delight-
ful sermon, wasn't it ? His thought was so clear
that it was a pleasure to follow him."
The ladies passed on shaking hands with those
who stood near, and the deacon after greeting
two or three others, made his way to where Mr.
Brand was standing.
" The congregation seem well pleased with the
sermon," said the deacon without committing him-
self. The two walked a little aside. Mr. Brand
was silent.
" Don't you think his voice is pitched a little
too low ? " the deacon asked, trying to draw the
other out.
" Possibly, though I hadn't noticed it," was the
reply.
" Driver spoke very highly of the sermon," said
the deacon, knowing that this was what Brand
was waiting for.
" Did he ? " said the other.
"Yes. He said it was a 'downright sensible
sermon.' "
" Anything else ? "
" He said something about the discourse not
containing * any of your pious nonsense.' "
"E-um'm, e-um'm," responded Brand without
opening his lips and with significant nods of his
head. " Driver said that, did he ? "
" Yes," replied the deacon, anxious to discover
Brand's opinion.
" Of course, anybody knowing what Driver be-
DAVID BALDWIN 89
lieves could have told what he'd thought of that
sermon. You didn't hear it all, did you ? "
" His voice didn't carry very well," said the
deacon, " and I guess I did miss about half of it."
" I thought so ; I thought so," said Brand with
more significant and mysterious nods of his head.
" You don't mean that you detected anything
unsound ? " Deacon Long asked in a low, eager
voice.
" I haven't made such a statement and I prefer
not to express my opinion either one way or the
other. But time will tell, time will tell," said
Brand, with the same mysterious air ; and seeing
his wife waiting for him, Brand joined her at the
main exit.
Deacon Long and his wife were among the
last to leave the church. " Everybody seem well
pleased with the sermon," ventured Mrs. Long, as
they were walking slowly home.
" Several spoke very highly of it," said he.
" Not everybody, then ? "
" I heard some remarks which were not so
favorable," admitted the deacon.
They walked a part of a block in silence.
"Was it Brother Driver?" she asked at length.
" No."
" Then it was Brother Brand ? "
-Yes."
After a moment in which neither had spoken,
the deacon continued, " I rather think that Brand
suspects something."
90 THE MINISTRY OF
" Suspects ?" exclaimed Mrs. Long, horrified.
" Yes. Though Brand didn't say so in just that
many words, yet I am positive that he suspects
Mr. Baldwin of being unsound in his orthodoxy."
This disclosure was made with apparent reluc-
tance. "You know, Mr. Baldwin is from the
University of the West," he added.
" But I didn't detect anything unorthodox in
the sermon, did you, Jacob ? "
" Not well, not exactly unsound, Josephine,"
admitted the deacon, with hesitation. " But, then,
where I sat one couldn't hear all that he did say,"
said he, as if excusing himself for having been de-
linquent in one of his important duties.
" Perhaps, Jacob," said his wife, " you had bet-
ter sit a little further front next Sunday."
" Why, what difference would that make, Jo-
sephine ? " asked the deacon, with the least bit of
irritation. " From the way you talk, one would
think I was deef."
" You know I don't think any such a thing,
Jacob," she hastened to reply. " But Mr. Bald-
win's voice doesn't seem to carry well, and I
thought if you'd a mind to sit a little nearer the
pulpit you might catch what was said better. For
the deacons cannot be too watchful, they cannot
be too particular, Jacob, if Brother Brand has rea-
sons for his suspicions. And I should feel terribly
humiliated, Jacob, if you, the senior deacon in the
church, let either of the others get ahead of you in
detecting unsound doctrine."
DAVID BALDWIN 91
" Perhaps you're right, Josephine," said he ;
" mebbe I'd better sit a few seats nearer the pul-
pit.-
" I think you'd better, Jacob ; and wouldn't it be
well also to keep a note-book and take down some
of the suspicious statements? There's nothing
like getting such things down in black and white."
" Mebbe I'd better, Josephine," said he solemnly.
Having raised a family of five children, all of
whom had long since been married, Deacon Long
and his wife were gracefully approaching the even-
tide of their earthly existence. Their three daugh-
ters, on marrying, had removed to other cities ;
but the two sons had succeeded their father in the
bakery business. It was a source of grief to both
the deacon and his wife that neither of the sons
had ever joined the church.
The Brands and Mrs. Allen were waiting for the
street car when Dr. and Mrs. Wood joined them
at the corner.
" A thoroughly good sermon we had this morn-
ing," said the doctor, pleasantly. " Though not a
churchman myself, I always reserve the right to
enjoy a good sermon when I am fortunate enough
to hear one."
Dr. Wood was a physician, a highly cultivated
man whose views on religious subjects were known
to be extremely liberal. He was not a regular at-
tendant at church.
" Yes, I think we are to be congratulated for
92 THE MINISTRY OF
having secured such a man as Mr. Baldwin," said
Mrs. Wood, enthusiastically.
Mrs. Brand looked at her husband, whose opinion
of the service she had not yet learned ; but as he
did not immediately speak, she said, "Ye-s, I hope
he may do a great deal of good." But, having
taken her clew from her husband's reticence, there
was something in her tone which seemed to say,
" But I doubt it, though."
The arrival of the car cut short the necessity for
further conversation. Later, at the dinner-table,
Mrs. Brand asked, " Was there anything the mat-
ter, Sylvester, with the sermon this morning?"
" Why, you heard what the preacher said, didn't
you ? " was the reply.
" Ye-s, but I can't recall anything that was par-
ticularly out of place. What was it, Sylvester ? "
" Have I said that there was anything out of
place ? " he asked coolly. " Didn't you hear any
number of people speak in favor of the sermon?"
" But I know very well, Sylvester, that you're
not pleased with it."
" Well ? " he rejoined.
In the Brand household there were four sons,
the youngest of whom had recently secured a po-
sition as assistant city engineer somewhere in Wis-
consin ; the other three boys were at home, at
least they took their meals at home and slept there.
Though Mr. Brand had wished for one or two of
his sons to enter his office and, having grown up
in the business, to succeed him when the time
DAVID BALDWIN 93
came, none of them could be persuaded to do it.
Whether it was that they did not fancy the coal
and wood business, or what was the difficulty, no
one knew ; but each one of the three had tried it,
and left the office in disgust, one to learn the
printer's trade, another to become a clerk in a
grocery store, while the third had not settled at
anything definite yet. As can be readily imagined,
there was not the most cordial feeling between the
father and his sons.
" Why, mother, can't you see why father don't
like the sermon ? Mr. Driver was pleased with it,
and that's reason enough," said Albert, the oldest
son.
" Some people think they are very smart," was
the father's reply.
" Now, Sylvester, if you saw anything wrong in
the sermon, I think you might say so. Some men
are so tantalizing 1 "
" Tantalizing ? What have I done now, I'd like
to know ? "
" Done ? You know very well what you're do-
ing keeping your opinion of the sermon all to
yourself and acting so mysterious about it."
" Perhaps I have no opinion," said he.
" Sylvester Brand I you know as well as I do
that you've got something in your mind which
you're holding back."
" Well, suppose I had would there be any great
harm in that ? "
" Harm ? If you're not one of the most ag-
9 THE MINISTRY OF
gravating men ! If there's anything provoking
in this world it's being mysterious about some-
thing."
" Never mind, mother," said Albert, " I'll go to
church next Sunday and size up the new dominie.
I can tell why father don't like him."
" I do wish you boys would go to church more,"
said Mrs. Brand, with a sigh. " You used to go
every Sunday."
With the exception of Vincent, the youngest son,
who became a member of the church while attend-
ing the University, Mr. Brand's sons had dropped
out of the Sunday-school and from regular attend-
ance at church when they were fourteen or fifteen
years of age.
While the conversation at the Brand dinner
table was in progress much after its usual fashion,
several other groups were discussing the new
pastor's sermon, in characteristic fashion.
" Papa, you should have been at church this
morning ; we had the loveliest sermon," said Miss
Marshall with all of her usual overflowing enthu-
siasm. " Didn't we, mamma ? "
" Yes, dear ; Mr. Baldwin preached very accept-
ably," answered her mother. " Only a little of the
dressing, Rufus," addressing her husband as he
was serving her plate.
" Acceptably ? Why, mamma, that's altogether
too mild a term," said the daughter, dismayed at
this lack of support.
DAVID BALDWIN 95
"What was the sermon about, daughter?"
asked Mr. Marshall, as he passed Ethel her plate.
" Oh, mamma can tell better than I can," said she.
" But I'm busy, dear. Go on and tell your papa
what the sermon was about."
"I hardly know where to begin, papa," said
Ethel. " But it was just grand 1 Of course I can-
not begin to tell you all of it, but his subject was
something about our lives being contagious.
And then he was so earnest I He was so intent
on making each of us feel what he felt and see
what he was seeing. He just forgot all about him-
self ! Oh, it was just grand 1 Have I got it right
so far, mamma ? "
" I think so, dear," the mother replied.
" But how did he develop his theme, daughter ?
What were his points ? you know ministers al-
ways have points in their sermons," said Mr.
Marshall. Ethel was his only child, and though
he had wished for a son, yet for these twenty
years his daughter had remained the sole idol of
his heart.
" What was his first point, mamma ? I don't
remember what he did say at first I was busy
looking at the minister's wife. I'm sure I shall
like her!"
" Yes, Mrs. Baldwin has a good face," said Mrs.
Marshall.
" If only she wasn't so short I " exclaimed Ethel,
who was tall and graceful. " Isn't it too bad,
mamma, that Mrs. Baldwin is so short ? "
96 THE MINISTRY OF
" But, my dear, she can't help it. We have to
take our figures as they come to us," said Mrs.
Marshall.
" Certainly, mamma ; but I think it's just too
bad for a minister's wife to be so short. One
likes to look up to the minister's wife, you know.
She should be grand and stately. But did you
notice her complexion, mamma ? I'm sure she
had the best complexion this morning of any lady
in the audience 1 I wonder what she uses ? " Ethel
looked at her mother inquiringly ; but it was her
father who replied.
" Doubtless," said he, " she takes plenty of ex-
ercise in the open air and doesn't eat too much
candy and pastry."
" Now, papa ! That's a horrid stab at me,"
cried Ethel. "Of course I know I do eat too
many caramels but why do you, you old dear,
bring them home ? And, mamma, did you notice
Mrs. Baldwin's hair ? I simply dote on such hair !
Her hair is perfectly exquisite, papa ! " exclaimed
Ethel, misplacing the accent of her adjective.
" But the sermon, daughter ; I'm waiting to hear
something more of this wonderful sermon," said
Mr. Marshall.
" Well, let me see," said Ethel, as if calling all
her mental powers to the task ; " of the first part I
don't remember very much I was enraptured
with that auburn hair. But the last part of the
sermon was grand, wasn't it, mamma?"
" I enjoyed the whole discourse very much,
DAVID BALDWIN 97
dear," replied her mother, as she passed her hus-
band the marmalade.
" Then tell us, daughter, what he said in the last
part," suggested Mr. Marshall, who was always
delighted with his daughter's descriptions.
" But I can't begin to tell it as the minister did*
papa ; but it was something about the Christ-life
didn't he say Christ-life, mamma? something
about the Christ-life being contagious ; that religion
meant catching the Christ-life and giving it to
others. Wasn't that it, mamma ?"
"I think his idea was something like that,"
replied the mother.
" Of course, papa, I don't mean that Mr. Bald-
win used just the words that I used," said the girl,
earnestly.
" I understand, daughter," said Mr. Marshall ;
" I am sure it must have been a sensible sermon,
though I fear ministers do not always preach com-
mon sense."
, Mr. Marshall was a keen student of human
nature, a man of good business capacity, able to
amass wealth but not always judicious in his in-
vestments. As president of the Tioga Gas and
Electric Company, he had at various times gath-
ered together considerable sums of money, but
these had disappeared in fruitless speculations.
No man in the city had a larger or a more tender
heart ; he was always helping somebody ; and
among his fellow-citizens none was held in higher
esteem. Just why he never became a member of
98 THE MINISTRY OF
the church, no one knew. His wife and daughter
seldom thought of the fact ; for through all ex-
ternal relations, the eyes of those who love us see
deep down into what we really are ; and this wife
and daughter saw and were satisfied.
At the Stewarts', the dinner was begun, as
usual, in comparative quiet. The father sat in his
big chair at the head of the table ; on one side of
him sat Elizabeth, the youngest daughter, on the
other side, the eldest son ; Tom, Walter and
Robert came in order of their age next to Duncan,
with Cora and Mary on the opposite side, bring-
ing Mary, who always poured the tea, next to
her mother. There was one married daughter,
Althea, whose chair next to Mary's was always
placed at the table and more than half of the time
was occupied by some friend who chanced either
to be staying a few days with them, or who had
merely dropped in with one of the younger mem-
bers of the family. To-day, Miss Andrews, an
intimate friend of Cora's, sat down to dinner with
the family.
Mrs. Stewart was in many ways a remarkable
woman. Marrying at an early age, she managed
in the midst of her numerous and exacting house-
hold duties to give herself a broad and generous
intellectual culture. This was possible only be-
cause many generations of New England ancestry
had poured forth their finest mental and moral
fibre into her inheritance. Her husband, a most
DAVID BALDWIN 99
genial man though quite unlike his wife in many
particulars, was very proud of her and of his chil-
dren. The whole family, before the mother's par-
tial loss of the use of her left leg, was very regular
in attendance at church on Sunday mornings ;
but for a few years the mother had been unable to
walk more than a part of a block at a time, and
frequently her husband remained at home with
her while the rest of the family attended the morn-
ing worship. On this morning Mrs. Stewart had
urged him not to remain with her but to go and
hear the new minister.
" The children do not always get the full under-
standing of the sermon, Ephraim, and I would
like very much to know what the new minister
will say in his first discourse."
" Very well, mother ; I will go," said he. " I
guess it's not too late to get in before the sermon
begins." Selecting his favorite walking-stick, Mr.
Stewart hastened to church and slipped into one
of the seats near the door just as the preacher was
beginning his sermon.
So David had eight listeners that morning who
were all intent on carrying to " the little mother,"
as they fondly called her, the substance of the ser-
mon ; and it is probable that these eight persons
listened far more keenly than they would other-
wise have done, had not each known that the
mother would be sure to get at the bottom of the
matter as to how much each one had brought
away from the service.
100 THE MINISTRY OF
When the last plate had been served and the
meal was well under headway, the mother
asked :
" And how was the sermon this morning ? '
Immediately the general conversation around
the table subsided ; and though the question was
addressed to no one in particular, as the father
had attended the service, the rest waited for him
to speak first.
" The young man handled his subject very well,
mother," was all that he said.
There was silence for a quarter of a minute.
" And what did he say, Ephraim ? Was the dis-
course logical ? " said she, plunging at once into
the very heart of the subject.
" It was a very meaty discourse, mother, a very
meaty discourse ; and if I am not mistaken," he
continued, " the young man has a leaning toward
what's called the ' newer thought/ "
" His text was John 10 : 10, 'I came that they
may have life, and may have it abundantly,' " said
Elizabeth, glad to make her contribution before
some one else had gotten ahead of her.
" He used the Revised Version," said Walter.
" His theme was The Contagion of Life, if I un-
derstood it correctly," said Cora.
" Yes, I remember that," said Elizabeth.
" Ephraim," said Mrs. Stewart, " was this what
you meant by his leaning toward the ' newer
thought'?"
" Not exactly, mother, though of course that
DAVID BALDWIN 101
was a part of it. His whole sermon was different
from the old type, not that I can explain just how
it differed, but one could feel that there was a dif-
ference, mother."
By this time the tongues of all were loosened,
and with such a tableful it was simply out of the
question for each to wait his or her turn : all were
eager to enlighten " the little mother " who seemed
to have no trouble in catching what each one said
though two or three did talk to her at the same
time.
" Yes, I too felt that the sermon was different,"
said Mary. " Duncan, will you please to start the
bread around that way ? It struck me that Mr.
Baldwin's conception of salvation was scarcely
orthodox."
" Then I am classified," said Tom ; " for Mr.
Baldwin agreed with me perfectly."
" But it seems to me," persisted Mary, " that he
reduces salvation to something very vague and
indefinite catching the Christ-life, I think he
called it."
" Are you sure you understand what that term
means ? " asked Tom. " Perhaps you would not
find fault with it if you did."
"Whatever it may mean, it does not express
my idea of being saved," said Mary, somewhat
warmly. " I for one want a more definite con-
ception of salvation than that."
" Can a person who is sick have a more definite
conception of getting well than the gaining of
102 THE MINISTRY OF
strength little by little ? Can a patient, sick with
typhoid, get well in an instant ? "
" But being saved is different," said Mary,
insistingly.
" Perhaps not so different as you seem to
think," said Tom with provoking deliberation.
" Mr. Baldwin, you remember, said that salvation
is to our spiritual nature what health is to our
bodies. And he agrees with me exactly ; but he's
the first minister I ever heard make such a liberal
statement."
" But what about the atonement? If we are
saved by * catching the Christ-life,' why was it
needful for Christ to be punished for our sins?
Why couldn't he just have come into the world
and lived among people without being cruci-
fied ? "
" It is very probable," said Tom, quietly, " that
the atonement doesn't mean that Christ was pun-
ished in our stead."
Mrs. Stewart, wishing to divert this strain of
the conversation into another channel, asked,
" Then you quite agree with Mr. Baldwin, do you,
Thomas ? "
" Very heartily, mother," he replied, detecting
her wish and governing himself by it.
This little act of Tom's revealed one of the secrets
of this well-managed household much of the ma-
chinery was noiseless and out of sight.
" Mother, let's ask the minister and his wife to
take tea with us soon. Wouldn't it be great fun
DAVID BALDWIN 103
all of us asking him questions at once ! " cried Cora,
laughing at the thought of it.
" Isn't his wife a nice little body ? " said Eliza-
beth.
" Not so very little, Puss," said Duncan ; " she'll
weigh more than you do."
" I mean she isn't very tall," corrected Eliza-
beth.
" She's good natured, I'm sure," said Cora.
" And not at all bad looking," ventured Robert.
" Yes, she has a good look, but I wouldn't call
her handsome."
u On most women I just cannot bear that color
of hair, but on her it isn't so bad."
" For one, I'm thankful that red hair doesn't
run in the Stewart family," ejaculated Cora.
" Red hair must be a great trial to a woman."
" Did you hear any of those who were present
expressing their opinion of the sermon ? " asked the
mother, tactfully bringing the conversation back to
the main subject.
" Oh, yes, I heard several speak in glowing
praise of it," replied the father.
" I heard Mr. Driver," said Robert, " tell Deacon
Long something about its being a * sensible ' ser-
mon, that it contained ' none of your pious non-
sense.' He tapped the deacon on the shoulder as
he always does when he is well pleased."
" Then one can easily tell what Mr. Brand's at-
titude will be," said Walter.
" Yes ; those two men are never on the same side
104 THE MINISTRY OF
of any question," said Mary. " I do wish you boys
and father would attend the business meetings some-
times."
"Perhaps we shall," said Tom. "Though I
have no particular taste for such meetings, yet I'll
be willing to do almost anything if I can help make
it possible for Mr. Baldwin to stay with us for any
length of time."
" You may depend upon it," said Duncan, " that
Mr. Brand is not the man to let things go on quietly
with such a liberal man as Mr. Baldwin in our
pulpit. In general, every one is well pleased, espe-
cially Mr. Driver. Consequently Mr. Brand will
not be able to see any good in him."
" But what can he do ? " asked Walter.
" Why, it's plain enough," answered Tom. " It
is never the most difficult thing in the world for
one person to create a centre of influence against
a pastor, and Mr. Brand will seek to develop a
suspicion concerning Mr. Baldwin's orthodoxy.
And you might as well, in some congregations,
kill a minister as to suspect his orthodoxy."
" Ephraim," asked Mrs. Stewart, " what is your
opinion about the new minister's orthodoxy?"
"Well," answered the old gentleman, not will-
ing to commit himself too definitely on this sub-
ject, " from this one sermon I cannot tell very much
about it, mother ; but it's certain he has a strong
leaning toward the newer thought."
" And the majority of his congregation will like
his preaching all the better for it," said Tom.
DAVID BALDWIN 105
Two or three other strains of conversation were
in progress around the table at the same time.
When the dinner was ended, Mrs. Stewart had
perhaps as good an understanding of David's ser-
mon as had many who heard him speak.
Mrs. James gave her husband a fuller and a
more detailed account of the service. " I couldn't
help but wonder," said she, " what Mr. Brand and
Deacon Long will think of such a modern dis-
course."
" The deacon, my dear, will" not know that the
sermon was modern unless some one tells him,"
observed her husband.
" Very probably," replied Mrs. James, smiling ;
" but with Mr. Brand it will be different. Hav-
ing been a minister once himself, he has very
decided opinions as to what constitutes sound
doctrine."
" For the sake of the First Church here in
Tioga," said Mr. James, "I am glad that Mr.
Baldwin has a message of his own : that he is not
content simply to repeat words which, though
they meant something in the past, have now lost
their value for this generation. But in view of the
influence that Mr. Brand has in the church, I do
not envy the young man his task."
" Yes, this church needs just such a man as Mr.
Baldwin : some one must introduce the newer re-
ligious thought ; it must come some time, though
I fear that the one who introduces it will call
106 THE MINISTRY OF
down Mr. Brand's strongest opposition upon
him."
" But I think the newer thought could be very
easily introduced if it were not for Mr. Brand ; for
Mr. Driver is delightfully modern in much of his
religious thinking, though I shall be surprised if
the young pastor does not find that he has a prob-
lem on his hands in this direction also."
" Yes, Mr. Driver is especially fond of having
everything done in exactly the way it was done
when he was a young man. While he is, as you
say, liberal in his theology, no one could be more
conservative in methods of church work."
" And Mr. Brand is just the opposite extremely
conservative in his religious opinions, yet in meth-
ods of church work no one could possibly sur-
pass him in wanting to be up to date. Thus the
two of them," continued Mr. James, " surely make
a most interesting combination for a pastor to
deal with. It's like steering between Scylla and
Chary bdis."
" It's really too bad that our church has been
handicapped in this way so long."
"Yes," replied Mr. James, "and people gen-
erally outside of the church seem to recognize
this. Only yesterday, while in the bookstore, Mr.
Maxwell said something to me about it. He
pointed out what every one knows very well
that during the past twenty-five years while the
other churches of the city have more than doubled
their membership, the First Church has barely
DAVID BALDWIN 107
held its own ; and he was free to name Mr. Driver
and Mr. Brand, especially the latter, as the cause
of this lack of growth."
" I do hope, Lawrence, that Mr. Baldwin will be
permitted to do something here. It must be very
trying to a young minister to encounter such oppo-
sition, especially in his first pastorate."
In happy unconsciousness of all that was being
said of them, David and Miriam were enjoying a
delightful repast with Mr. and Mrs. Strong. Their
hostess was one of those women who have the
happy faculty of making it easy for one to feel
and appear at one's best in their presence ; and
their host, though very different from his wife, was
also gifted in the rare art of entertaining. Mr.
Strong was the university florist and professor of
horticulture ; and though still under forty, he had
attained a wide reputation as an authority in his
line, owing to his successful experiments in hybrid-
izing and to the able text-book he had recently
written on that subject.
After the dinner, Mrs. Strong proposed a walk
through the university conservatory: here her
husband was at his best, and during a delightful
hour he unfolded many interesting and surprising
facts to his guests.
" What a happy home ! " exclaimed Miriam, as
she and David were walking back to their
rooms.
"Yes," said David. "And I hope, sweetheart,
108 DAVID BALDWIN
it will not be long before we are in a little home
all by ourselves."
" Oh, I can hardly wait ! " exclaimed Miriam.
"And I'm so glad, dear, that we didn't that I I
mean that you didn't come to Tioga alone."
VII
- dear," said David a few days later,
"this matter of selecting a house we
must decide at once."
Something had happened. David's manner and
the unusual emphasis in his tone plainly indicated
that.
Already the young bride was beginning to in-
terpret the inner, unspoken life of her husband by
the little changes in his expression and tone, an
art in which she later gained great proficiency.
With true wifely tact she now waited an instant
before speaking : if David wished to disclose what
was in his mind would it not be better for him to
do so unquestioned ?
"Yes," continued David his tone was still very
determined " we must not wait any longer ; we
must select our house at once."
The day's heat had been very oppressive, for at
Tioga the hottest summer weather usually comes
in September. David and Miriam were walking
along the shore of the lake. A gentle breeze, as
it stirred the face of the lake, was causing the
numerous small row boats, tied up here and there
to the private landings, to beat the water with
their prows as they bobbed up and down, keeping
time to the rude music made by the water coming
109
110 THE MINISTRY OF
in contact with the shore a peculiar rhythmic
sound impossible to forget when once it has
sounded in your ears.
Within a few minutes those patient water-steeds
would be unloosed and speeding toward the centre
of the lake some were already departing, going
early to gain a certain coveted spot from which to
watch the sun go down. This was the fashion of
the town to watch the sun set from the centre of
the lake.
The origin of this custom was as follows : In
the early days of Tioga a woman of unusual ar-
tistic insight and ability, a Miss Scott by name,
some of whose works are now included in nearly
all of the best American collections, had resided
here for a time with a brother. One evening in
early September, while crossing the lake, Miss Scott
became enraptured with the beauties of the sunset.
The boat was brought to a standstill and held as
near as possible to a certain position while Miss
Scott caught the peculiar coloring effect and trans-
ferred it to her folio. Evening after evening she
returned to the same location, studying the sunset.
Later she transferred the results of her study to
canvas, giving, as it has been called by those
qualified to speak with authority in such matters,
a truly remarkable interpretation of a sunset as
seen from the centre of the lake.
On leaving Tioga, Miss Scott presented her pic-
ture to the town, with the stipulation that it should
always be accessible to the public. With due
DAVID BALDWIN 111
ceremony the picture was received and given the
most conspicuous place in the reading-room of the
town library, where, since Miss Scott's pictures
have become famous, many distinguished visitors
have come to look at it. During the first decade
of this picture's existence, however, the inhabitants
of Tioga paid little attention to it ; many even forgot
its existence. But one day a stranger approached
the city officials and offered to buy Miss Scott's
sunset scene. The figure named by the stranger
aroused their suspicions. They hesitated. The
picture was a gift : ought they to sell it ?
"You need a new library building. If you will
transfer Miss Scott's picture to me, I will deposit
money sufficient to erect one. In that way," said
the stranger, " you will not be selling a gift but
only changing its form."
Instantly the picture took on a new value.
Everybody became interested in it. Men and
women and children flocked to the reading-room
to look at it. No, indeed, the city would not part
with it, not even for two library buildings ; and all
subsequent cash offers were indignantly refused by
public opinion, i
And gradually the custom grew up of going out
to the centre of the lake on the anniversary of the
painting of the picture, to watch the sun set from
the same spot from which the artist had seen it go
down. Year after year the custom had grown.
Some went because they remembered the occasion
of the picture's birth ; others because they had seen
-112 THE MINISTRY OF
the artist ; others because they had seen the pic-
ture ; while some went simply because it was a
local custom.
David and Miriam had seen the picture ; and as
they stood before it, drinking in its inspirational
power, they too were seized with a desire to wit-
ness a sunset from the middle of the lake. In
company with Mr. Palmer and Miss Fenwickthey
had enjoyed this treat on the evening before.
As they walked along the path by the shore,
watching the boats depart, Miriam's position
enabled her, without appearing to do so, to study
her husband's face while apparently looking be-
yond him over the water. Never before had
Miriam seen her husband look so determined, so
fierce. What could be the matter ? But instead of
questioning him, as a woman less wise might have
done, Miriam said,
" And the three places we now have in mind are
all so different such different motives enter into
the consideration of each."
" Yes ; but if I felt free," said David whose tone
was softening somewhat, " if I felt free to follow my
own inclinations in this matter, I would decide upon
that cottage in the iron-foundry district. There, we
could come in closest contact with a number of fam-
ilies who are wholly outside of the influence of the
church. I'm sure that the only way a minister
can help such people is to live among them : they
will not come to him, he must go to them. But in
discussing this subject with some of the members
DAVID BALDWIN 113
of the church, I find that they do not take at all
kindly to such a plan. There is a desire, on the
part of some, for us to live where our residence
will contribute something to the social standing of
the church. At least this is what Mr. Brand in-
timated when he called my attention to that half-
house on Fourth Street."
" Yes," said Miriam, " the subject has evidently
been discussed ; for Mis. Marshall and Mrs. Har-
rington, in speaking with me about our probable
location, made some remark concerning the social
importance of the pastor's residence."
" When one becomes pastor of a church," said
David, " I suppose it is necessary to take into con-
sideration the wishes of his congregation. But
since this church, I suppose I should say our
church, has no parsonage, the members ought to
be willing for us to select our home wherever we
desire. Some of the members undoubtedly have
social ambitions for us."
" Is it not possible," asked Miriam, " that they
do not understand our motive for wishing to live
among the iron-foundry families?"
" Of course. There's just where the difficulty
lies. But how are we to get them to understand
it ? Church life has become so conventional, and
the pastor's activity is so restricted to certain pro-
fessional duties, that the ordinary church is shocked
if its pastor departs from the path beaten hard by
his predecessors. But I'm inclined to think that
it would do a church good to have a pastor just
114 THE MINISTRY OF
go ahead and do whatever he wanted to do with-
out regard as to whether it was conventional or
not."
" Perhaps it would," said Miriam. " But I'm
not sure, David, that he would do the most good
in that way."
" Then you think, Miriam, we'd better not take
that cottage ? " he asked, still looking out over the
waters. " That community, of all places in Tioga,
is where we could doubtless be of greatest use."
" Of greatest use to our immediate neighbors,
without doubt," replied Miriam. " But since we
get our support from the church, are we not under
obligations to take into consideration the wishes
of those who support us ? But then, David, you
must decide this matter. You know best."
" Well," said he, " suppose we decide by the
process of elimination. First, suppose we strike
out that place on Fourth Street. To live there
would be too expensive ; it would cost too much
in every way. So out goes all further consider-
ation of that possibility."
" Together with the social ambitions of some of
our members," added Miriam.
" But of not many, I hope. I'm beginning to
think that Mr. Brand himself is at the bottom of
this. He seems to have a great deal of influ-
ence in the church. But if anything further is said
about it, we'll say that as soon as the church owns
a parsonage on Fourth Street we shall be ready
to move into it."
DAVID BALDWIN 115
" The other churches own their parsonages, do
they not ? "
" Yes."
" Then that will be an excellent way to meet
any further suggestions in that direction."
" Now for the cottage on Mill Street. I may as
well confess, Miriam, that in thinking it over this
afternoon I was on the point of deciding to take
that cottage among the iron-foundry families
whether the church liked it or not."
" On the point of deciding ? What hindered
you, David, from coming to a decision ? " asked
Miriam, looking up inquiringly.
" I wouldn't wonder," replied David, " if a cer-
tain little girl has had something .to do with it.
You see, Miriam," said he, picking up a willow
twig lying by the side of the path, " it's like this :
whenever I am about to decide any question,
your judgment on the matter, what you would
think about it, gets all mixed up with my own
ideas, and "
" What a curious mixture it must be ! " laughed
Miriam. " But go on, dear."
" Well, I'm finding that in forming my judg-
ments and decisions, your thoughts, Miriam, creep
in and give color to all of my thinking."
" But, David, how did you know what my
thoughts were? Personally, I would like very
much if we could take that cottage on Mill Street"
" Oh, I could tell. Though I knew you would
like to live there, that nothing would suit your
116 THE MINISTRY OF
personal wish better, yet I could feel that you did
not deem it wise for us to go against the wishes
of the church. I had practically settled the mat-
ter before supper, settled it not so much in view
of my own inclinations, as of your thought on the
subject"
" But, dear, how could my judgment influence
you when I had not expressed it ? "
" You will have to tell ; I can't. But I know
that it did influence me," replied David. " Why
sometimes, dearest, I can just feel what you would
think about this or that, and I cannot get away
from your thought in forming my own decisions.
This has happened more than once."
" And I must confess to similar experiences,"
breathed Miriam lowly, as if touching upon a sub-
ject very precious to her. " Strange, isn't it, that
the lives of two persons should so blend ? "
" Indeed it is. I wonder if other married peo-
ple have ever experienced anything like this ? "
" Oh, undoubtedly. Have you never noticed
that two elderly people who have lived happily
together for many years even come to have the
same thoughts on nearly all subjects ? "
"Then we are in only the first stage of the
process of blending," laughed David. " But to
return to that cottage. We are agreed, are we
not, Miriam, to strike that also from our list ? "
" Did you not say, David, that you had already
settled the matter this afternoon?" she replied
slyly. " But it is not too late for me to agree
DAVID BALDWIN 117
with you. Under the circumstances, it is probably
the wisest thing to drop the cottage on Mill Street
from further consideration. Perhaps at some later
time we may be able to carry out our plans in that
direction."
" With these two places disposed of, the question
now is Will Professor Wilson's house, on Monroe
Avenue, suit us ? It is pretty large, but we can
get it very reasonably, while the professor and his
family are abroad."
" I like the house very well," said Miriam ; " and
even without the two rooms up-stairs, reserved for
storage, there is an abundance of room for us.
But isn't the rent two hundred dollars almost
more than we can afford to pay ? "
" It does seem like making quite a hole in our
salary," admitted David. " But under other condi-
tions we'd have to pay at least three hundred dol-
lars for that house. Rents are fearfully high here in
Tioga. They always are in a university town
where the institution has no dormitory system."
" I noticed," said Miriam, " when we were look-
ing at that house, that the range and some
other such things are left in the kitchen. If we
rented almost any other house we'd have to buy
these."
" Suppose, dear, we walk around to the agent's
and get the key. It might be well for us to look
through the house once more before making up
our minds definitely. I want to get this matter
settled just as soon as we can," said David, some-
118 DAVID BALDWIN
thing of his former tone and fierceness becoming
apparent.
Turning off from the path by the lake, they set
out for the home of the real estate agent.
" I hope Mr. Robbins will not be out," he con-
tinued as they neared the agent's residence. " If
we can get the key, and look through that house
again, we may be able to decide the matter to-
night."
" It would be nice if we could," replied Miriam.
" So soon one gets tired of boarding."
" Yes," answered David, grimly, " one does soon
get tired of it especially when hash is set before
you three times a week ! If there's anything 1
do detest, it's hash ! When we get to housekeep-
ing, Miriam, if we ever have hash on our table,
I'll "
" But we shall never have it, my dear," inter-
rupted Miriam, quietly, as they turned up the walk
to Mr. Robbins' residence.
How small a matter it sometimes takes to dis-
turb the equilibrium of even so unworldly minded
a person as a minister! Miriam smiled. But
David's face was set with a look of grim determina-
tion. Fortunately, Mr. Robbins had not yet left
for the lake; and getting the key to Professor
Wilson's house, these two home-seekers were soon
doing what you and I have probably done more
than once looking the house over a second or a
third time to see if it would suit.
VIII
IF our knowledge of life were limited to certain
interpretations commonly found in books, it
would be easy to draw the conclusion that
the culmination of all human interests is marriage,
and that beyond this event there is nothing worthy
of being recorded. But to what a different con-
clusion a study of life itself leads ! From observa-
tion, or better still, experience vastly more relia-
ble sources than the imaginings of any man (or
woman) we may learn the true place of marriage :
it is rather a new beginning than the culmination
of life. While courtship, with all of its interests,
its alternating joys and sorrows, its expectations
and disappointments, its hopes, its fears, its com-
promises and adjustments, its contests, its vic-
tories, its glow and its radiance, is a truly impor-
tant period in the life of the individual, a period
whose significance is often far too lightly esteemed ;
yet does not courtship itself gain its importance
and its significance from the fact that it is but
preparatory to a larger life, of which marriage is
the beginning ?
But faithfully to interpret life after marriage is
a most difficult task. Here the problems become
more complicated ; the interests more vital ; the
joys and sorrows and fears and hopes and contests
119
120 THE MINISTRY OF
and adjustments and expectations are more closely
entwined about the deeper things of existence.
Two lives are now joined for better or worse. Will
the union aid or hinder the working out of the
destiny of each? When a chemist unites two
substances whose action and reaction are not fully
understood, with what intense interest, what abated
breath he watches the experiment ! Will there be
a violent explosion ? Will the elements utterly re-
fuse to coalesce ? or will they blend quietly ? and
what will be the exact nature of the new combina-
tion ? How absorbed the observer as, with these
questions in mind, he watches the result! And
marriage is not altogether unlike the union of two
such substances.
Having rented Professor Wilson's house on
Monroe Avenue, David and Miriam filled the days
of the following week with unusually busy hours,
as they made preparations for entering their new
home. It is no easy task (so I have been told) to
fit out a home de novo, even when one has an ample
bank account on which to draw ; but under such
circumstances the task is relatively light compared
with the one which now was engaging the thought
and the strength of this young minister and his
brave little wife ; for they were face to face with
the problem of trying to furnish a house empty-
handed.
You whose parents, on one side or the other,
furnished your first home may feel inclined to com-
miserate the lot of this newly married couple. But
DAVID BALDWIN 121
do nothing of the kind. They do not need your
pity. Though every article bought represents
some sacrifice, something else given up, how much
dearer to them is each piece of furniture because
it has to be so carefully considered before being pur-
chased ! Indeed, it is you who have never had
any such beginning in life as this, you who know
nothing of the luxury of such an experience, you
who should be commiserated ! For some pleasures
cannot be counterfeited nor duplicated in any other
form. It is only the barefooted boy getting the
cows on a cold frosty morning in early autumn
who knows the absolutely unparalleled pleasure of
warming his feet on the warm spot where a cow
has lain 1
Of course, at their wedding, David's friends had
remembered him in much the usual manner; and
Miriam also had received a number of gifts. But
all these, while dearly cherished for the affection
they represented, would go but a little way in the
furnishing of a house. David had just opened the
two boxes, not very large ones, in which their
presents had been shipped from the East.
"My dear," said he, arranging four similar
packages side by side on the table, " not every
newly married couple begins housekeeping so well
supplied with teaspoons."
" We might exchange two of the sets for some-
thing else," said Miriam, examining the cards at-
tached to each of the packages. " But whose gift
shall they be ? Belle's or Gertrude's or Blanche's
122 THE MINISTRY OF
or Mary's ? I cannot bear to think of parting with
any of them."
" Nor shall you, dearest," replied David. " We'll
keep the four sets, and what's more, we'll keep
every gift we've got." David was arranging an-
other row on the table. Already there were five
similar articles side by side. He was hunting in
the box for the sixth.
Finding it, David placed the article by the side
of its five mates, and taking a step backward,
stood viewing the array. Though they were of
different design, and varied a little in shape and
size, these six gifts, all from different people, be-
longed unmistakably to the same genus, that of
soup-ladles. Six silver soup-ladles !
" No," said he, making a mock heroic gesture
at the row, "we'll not part with a single one of our
presents."
" But, David, six soup-ladles ! We can never
make use of that many. With the teaspoons it
is different," protested Miriam.
" Yet I cannot think of bartering, yes, bartering
is the right word, I cannot think of bartering one
of our gifts, no, not if there were twenty-six soup-
ladles among them. Who can tell the serious con-
sequences that would probably follow in the train
of such an act?"
" Serious consequences, David ? " asked Miriam,
not wholly penetrating his fun.
David was scowling terribly in his effort to keep
his face straight.
DAVID BALDWIN 123
"Yes, serious consequences," he repeated sol-
emnly. "For if a man will barter his wedding
presents, gifts about which cling the tenderest of
sentiments, if he will traffic with these things, what
will he not do ? Is country or honor or truth safe
in the hands of such a man ? Would he not also
barter these if a suitable opportunity presented it-
self ? Part with one of my wedding presents ? No ;
not if they were all soup-ladles 1 "
Miriam was unwrapping a pickle-dish. David
looked into her face, but it was as non-committal
as his own.
"Why," he continued, " I can see Henly racking
his brain and spending sleepless nights in his effort
to decide what present he should send us. I can
see him going from store to store, the trial of men
clerks, the despair of salesladies. What care, what
anxiety rests on his brow ! At last one day, having
exhausted the patience of the head clerk, who for
an hour or more had been vainly endeavoring to
suit him, Henly is handed over to the proprietor.
This superior person has had many years of ex-
perience with such cases. In two minutes he has
helped Henly to a decision. In five minutes more
Henly leaves the store with the article properly
packed for shipping. In the hands of the pro-
prietor, a happy thought has come to him. He
recalls that I am fond of soup. *A soup-ladle/
says he to the proprietor ; * how would that do for
a wedding present ? ' * Just the thing ! ' replies
that august person. ' No one else will probably
124 THE MINISTRY OF
think of sending your friend a soup-ladle/ What
a burden of anxiety and indecision rolls from
Henly's shoulders as he pays for his purchase !
His stalwart frame stands erect once more. No,
Miriam ; I cannot bring myself to barter his gift.
It would be worse than sacrilege ! "
David was trying to look dignified ; but as
Miriam caught his eye, she burst into laughter.
"And the other five?" she asked.
" Each undoubtedly represents some similar ex-
perience," replied David. " They're all from some
of the boys, all except one ; and you can have no
idea, Miriam, how difficult it is for a young man to
select a wedding present, especially if he hasn't
much money to invest in one."
" More difficult than for a woman, do you
think?"
" Oh, Fm sure of it," said he, placing a tooth-
pick holder which he had just unpacked, on the
table. He stood a moment looking again at the
row of soup-ladles. " I'll tell you, Miriam, what
we can do with these," said he.
"Well?"
"Why, when some of our friends are to be
married, we can just pass them on. Five wed-
dings ! A soup-ladle for each. Think of it l
From what perplexity of making selections these
five extra soup-ladles will save us 1 "
As the unpacking continued, more articles of
fancy silverware, dainty cups and saucers, some
exquisite pieces of hand-painted china, and several
DAVID BALDWIN 125
nondescript articles of fancy needlework were ar-
ranged on the table ; while on the floor near the
wall, David stood up the half-dozen pictures. In
the bottom of the last box were several books
some well-bound copies of the poets, a set of
George Eliot, and a well-worn volume of Spur-
geon's sermons, this last from an estimable lady
who had been David's first Sunday-school teacher.
So much for a beginning. The unpacking of
the presents had taken place in the kitchen of the
new home, and they were piled up on the table
belonging to that room. The house had been
thoroughly cleaned, and as Miriam was putting
some of the things away in the cupboards, David
carried the empty boxes to the basement
" Now Miriam," said he, " we'll take that inven-
tory of what we haven't got."
David produced a little memoranda book from
his vest pocket, and on the top of the first blank
page he wrote the word " Kitchen."
" I think, dear, you'd better allow two pages for
the kitchen," said Miriam, as he was about to
write the word " Dining-room " on the next leaf.
" The list for the kitchen will include so many lit*
tie, inexpensive articles, you know."
" And how much for the other rooms ? "
" One page will be sufficient."
On the tops of other leaves, David wrote re-
spectively such words as " Sitting Room," " Bed
Rooms," " Study," " Hall," " Guest Chamber,"
" Parlor."
126 THE MINISTRY OF
" But I doubt, Miriam, whether we'll ever get to
the parlor if we keep within our limit," said David
as he penciled the word.
"Then, dear, we can let the furnishing of the
parlor go," she answered, bravely.
" But, Miriam," persisted David, " how will it
look for us to have no parlor? All the ladies of
the church will call on us, and we should have a
suitable place in which to receive them."
" I have thought of that, David," she replied ;
"and our sitting-room will do very nicely for a
while at least until we can furnish a parlor with-
out going in debt for it. I have a horror of
debt."
" Oh, of course it would be better if we had the
money to pay down for all of our furniture ; but
Mr. Cooper I saw him this morning about it
very kindly offers to let me have from his depart-
ment store whatever we may need, and says we
can pay him so much a month. I like this plan
much better than borrowing the money from Mr.
Driver."
" Yes ; so do I, though it was very nice of Mr.
Driver his offering of his own accord to let you
have the money for a year without interest. But,
dear," continued Miriam, earnestly, " if you think
best to get our furniture of Mr. Cooper and to pay
him as he suggests, we should be just as careful,
shouldn't we, to keep within our limit ? "
" Oh, yes ; I suppose so," answered David, a lit-
tle reluctantly. " But if we wanted to, we could
DAVID BALDWIN 127
now go fifty or a hundred dollars over, just as well
as not. You see, Miriam, we are sure of our
salary every month. I would not think of incur-
ring any debt for furniture if my salary was not
absolutely certain and large enough to justify my
doing so. While we can't get everything, of
course ; yet on a thousand dollars a year we can
afford to furnish our home reasonably well, I
think."
To David, who had never before received a defi-
nite salary, and whose expenses hitherto had
never exceeded four hundred dollars annually, his
present salary of a thousand a year seemed a
resource almost inexhaustible. He knew of many
ministers who were living on much less than that
amount, ministers with large families, too. Surely
it was not necessary for him to economize too
severely. This he had had to do all his life. But
now it was different.
Miriam had thus far succeeded in keeping the
proposed limit of their furnishings down to two
hundred and fifty dollars. David had wanted to
make it at least three hundred ; Miriam thought
two hundred ought to be enough. They had
compromised on two hundred and fifty ; but David
was being held to this figure rather unwillingly,
now that he had found it possible to get whatever
he wanted at Cooper's, on the instalment plan.
They spent the whole afternoon making entries
on the various pages of David's note-book. Of
all the problems in higher mathematics none had.
128 THE MINISTRY OF
ever been so difficult as the one now before them !
Time after time these lists were revised, something
left out of this room in order to put some other
more needed article into that one. The " limit "
was severely tested without making a single entry
on the parlor-page. David reluctantly yielded to
Miriam's judgment and no provision was made
for the furnishing of the parlor.
In making out the list for David's study, Miriam
had insisted on his selecting a much more expen-
sive chair than he had intended to get ; but he
would not consent to it. He declared that he
just would have his way about the chair in which
he was to sit. If she was bound to let the parlor
go unfurnished, he would buy the cheapest chair
he could get for his study.
But at last the furniture was ordered and the
new home began to take on a definite character,
the two young people attending to all the work of
getting the rooms in order.
" Why, David ! This will never do ! " exclaimed
Miriam, coming into the sitting-room where her
husband had just finished hanging some pictures.
" Never do ? Why, dear, what's the matter ?
Aren't they hung straight?" asked David who
was beginning to mistrust his own ability of
arranging anything in a room, for Miriam always
had to give a few womanly touches to whatever
he did before it looked just right. Before Miriam
had come into the room he was certain the pic-
tures were all right.
DAVID BALDWIN 129
" Now, Miriam," said he, surveying his work
from the middle of the floor, " these pictures are
hung as straight as any one could hang them ;
except perhaps that one in the corner by the win-
dow that does seem to be just a little too much
to the right/' said he, adjusting the wire of the
picture in question.
" But, you dear old lover boy ! " cried Miriam,
" can't you see that they must every one of them
come down ? "
" Come down ? " echoed David, nonplussed.
" Yes, every one of them must come down.
That dark one has too little light on it ; those two
yonder do not harmonize well ; and this 'one is
altogether too high."
As Miriam pointed out these defects, David
instantly recognized the justice of her criticism in
each case. Mounting the step-ladder, David soon
had the pictures all rearranged according to
Miriam's suggestions.
"There! Doesn't that look better?" asked
Miriam, as David stood by her side, looking at
the new arrangement.
" No-o," answered David, shaking his head ;
but from the look in his eyes and the way he said
it, Miriam knew that he meant just the opposite.
" You old dear, your eyes betray you ! " cried
Miriam. " Of course you think it is better ! " She
stood before him looking up into his face.
" My eyes betray me, do they ? " said he. " Then 1
they must tell you lots of things ; they must tell
130 THE MINISTRY OF
you how much I would like to " and he quickly
enfolded her in his arms and printed a kiss on her
cheek.
" Ah, the finishing touch ! " cried a merry voice
from the hallway. " You must pardon me," con-
tinued Mrs. Strong, advancing and blushing very
prettily at the confusion of the married lovers be-
fore her ; " but the hall door stood so invitingly
open that I came in without stopping to ring. I'm
curious to know," she went on sweetly, talking
more with her eyes than with her voice, " if you
finish settling each room in that way ? "
" Why, no, Mrs. Strong ; we hadn't thought of
it before," answered David, rallying. " But thank
you ever so much for the suggestion. Come on,
Miriam, let's go back and put the ' finishing touch '
on the rest of the rooms."
" Be still, you silly boy ! " said Miriam. " You
must be good or you'll have to stand up in a
corner."
"With my face to the wall?" asked David,
plaintively, trying to imitate a little child.
" Yes ; with your face to the wall," said she,
laughing at him.
" Then I'll be good," said he submissively. But
as Miriam turned to address Mrs. Strong, David
quickly stole a kiss from her other cheek.
"What shall I do, Mrs. Strong, with such a
naughty boy ? " asked Miriam. " But come," she
added, " let us show you the rooms we have
.already settled."
DAVID BALDWIN 131
Together they stepped through the archway
into the dining-room, David holding aside the
portieres as the ladies preceded him.
" What a cheery dining-room ! " exclaimed Mrs.
Strong, taking in at a glance the table neatly set
for two, a beautiful table-fern gracing the centre,
and the simplicity and harmony of the whole ar-
rangement of the room, with its unmistakable air
of refinement, reflecting the character of the one
who had given it form. " What a fine view from
this window looking out over the lake ! I've
always regretted that our house has no view of the
lake, at least none to speak of save from the front
veranda."
"You may consider that circumstance, Mrs.
Strong, a part of your good fortune," said David,
approaching the ladies as they were looking out
of the window. " Do you know," said he, " this
view of the lake came very nearly plunging the
members of this household into an interminable
controversy ? "
" Indeed ? " said Mrs. Strong, looking inquir-
ingly from one to the other.
" Yes," said David, " it was this way : Miriam
wanted the table turned around the other way,"
indicating with his hand. " But both of us wanted
to sit at this end "
" With your backs to the window how gener-
ous ! " interrupted Mrs. Strong.
" Yes ; and Miriam wouldn't give in."
" And neither would you," retorted Miriam,
132 THE MINISTRY OF
good-naturedly. " Don't you think, Mrs. Strong,
that it's a man's place to yield in such things to
his wife ? " she asked.
Mrs. Strong, with intuitive diplomacy, replied,
" Certainly, he should, my dear ; but we women
would think less of a man who always did it."
" There ! there 1 " they exclaimed in the same
breath.
" You should have yielded to me."
" But you would think less of me if I had," he
replied, glad to keep up his part of the pleas-
antry.
" So you compromised by turning the table
about? Well, I think this side view is all the
better. How interesting this home-making must
be to you two people ! It almost makes me want
to begin all over again."
In each room Mrs. Strong saw evidences of
economy and likewise of good judgment and a
refined taste. Her praise and words of apprecia-
tion were unbounded.
" You are a model housekeeper, I'm sure," she
said to Miriam, whose glowing cheeks took on a
very pleased expression at this honest praise.
" Do you like housework ? " she asked. " I am
sure you do."
" Yes," answered Miriam ; " I am very fond of
it."
" I wish I were ; but I am not."
" Indeed ? "
" No ; I cannot bear it. I should have been a
DAVID BALDWIN 133
man. I think I should have liked to be a min-
ister," glancing at her pastor.
They were entering David's study.
" And here is where you will write your ser-
mons our sermons, I should have said. What a
privilege it must be to give one's life to the study
of religious subjects, Mr. Baldwin."
"It is a privilege," replied David, gravely ;
" but one from which many men honestly
shrink."
" I like to hear you say that ! " she replied, se-
riously. " Religious knowledge, I suppose, is
sometimes gained at great cost."
" Yes," said he, wondering at her insight
" But it's worth having at any cost this deeper
knowledge of life, and of its meaning and its
destiny ? "
" Yes, it's worth having at any cost," repeated
David, again wondering how far this woman's ex-
perience had led her into an appreciation of his
own position.
"I want to tell you," continued Mrs. Strong,
" that I have been so interested in your sermons.
I suppose," said she, turning to Miriam, " I sup-
pose this is because he has unfolded many of my
own immature thoughts."
" I think most people enjoy sermons in which
the pastor can do that. I know I always do," an-
swered Miriam.
" But the trouble is," said David, " nearly every
congregation to-day is divided into two classes,
134 THE MINISTRY OF
and what feeds the one often means very little or
nothing to the other."
" I know that is so," replied Mrs. Strong.
" Now, our former pastor was a very good man
no one could possibly find any fault with his
goodness ; but somehow a great many of his ser-
mons didn't mean anything at all to me. And
every once in a while I would get so hungry for a
sermon that did feed me, that I just had to go
where I could get it to some other church."
"I shall know what's the matter," laughed
David, " if you are not at church some Sunday
morning. But seriously, Mrs. Strong, I quite
agree with you ; I have done the same thing my-
self."
" Oh, I think it will not be necessary for me to
run away any more not so long as you preach
the kind of sermons we've been having," answered
Mrs. Strong.
" That's very kind of you to say so, Mrs. Strong,"
said David.
" So many questions come up in my mind some-
times when I am thinking on religious subjects.
During the last year or two I have often wished
for a pastor or some one in sympathy with modern
thought with whom I could talk over my perplexi-
ties. Many of the older conceptions and state-
ments mean absolutely nothing to me now. I am
not at all settled as to just what I do believe.
Would you mind," Mrs. Strong asked, looking
up at David, " would you mind my running in to
DAVID BALDWIN 135
ask you some questions once in a while ? It would
be such a relief ! "
" No, indeed," replied David, eager to be of as-
sistance to any one in that trying period of transi-
tion in religious opinions. " I shall be only too
glad, Mrs. Strong, to give you what little light I
may have on any question that at times perplexes
you."
"Yes," added Miriam, seconding her husband's
invitation, " why shouldn't we feel as free to con-
sult our pastor as our physician that is, if the
pastor is one whom we care to consult ? Unfor-
tunately, I never had such a pastor."
" Until now ! " laughed David.
" Oh, I used to get all wrought up over some
of these religious subjects," continued Miriam.
" I used to think I was very wicked because I
couldn't believe everything just as our minister
presented it."
" But now ? " asked Mrs. Strong.
" Oh, I think I agree thoroughly with the preach-
ing I've heard since coming to Tioga. You know,
I never heard Mr. Baldwin preach before we were
married."
As Mrs. Strong was leaving, Miriam and David
again urged her to drop in on them whenever she
wished to do so.
" Mr. Baldwin will be glad to have you interrupt
him whenever he can serve you. We have both
passed through some trying experiences in ad-
justing our religious beliefs to modern conditions,
136 DAVID BALDWIN
and I feel that he will be able to say just the right
word in helping 1 one to understand the newer
thought. He has been of such help to me."
Miriam followed her friend to the door.
Among other things, Mrs. Strong had learned
that the Baldwins were not intending to furnish
their parlor, and that they were planning to have
their first meal in their new home on the following
evening.
IX
MRS. STRONG, on her way home from the
Baldwins', stopped to see Mrs. Driver ;
and within a few minutes the two ladies
were in the midst of a most absorbing conver-
sation. Mr. Driver, on entering the room where
the ladies were chatting, was also admitted to the
council, and heartily expressed his approval of the
project under consideration, which was that the
church families should each make some contribu-
tion toward stocking the pastor's pantry with the
usual household supplies.
"The church insisted on his marrying," said
Mrs. Strong, explaining their purpose to Mr.
Driver, " when perhaps he was scarcely prepared
financially to take such a step."
" I have my doubts about his needing very much
urging to get married," said Mr. Driver, drily.
" But that's neither here nor there. I admire that
little woman his wife. She's got more common
sense than two ordinary women, just the kind of
woman for a minister's wife."
" My husband, you see, is quite taken with our
pastor's wife," said Mrs. Driver, highly pleased
that it was so. " Mr. Baldwin is certainly to be
congratulated on his choice. Everybody speaks
in the highest praise of Mrs. Baldwin. And now
about these little remembrances we are to send
137
138 THE MINISTRY OF
them : we should avoid too many duplications,
should we not? "
" Yes," said Mrs. Strong, " we must try to send
in as great a variety as possible ; and as you say,
not too many duplicates."
" And these orders should all be delivered to-
morrow afternoon ? "
" Yes."
"Well," said Mr. Driver, withdrawing to the
library, " the rest of the family can send whatever
they wish. I will order a jar of butter. That little
woman shall have a jar of the best butter in the
market."
"I'll send some fruit," added Mrs. Driver,
" some apples, they're always acceptable, and some
grapes."
Mrs. Strong made a note of these articles. " And
we will send an assortment of breakfast foods,"
said she, after a moment's reflection.
By the aid of the 'phone the ladies at once
reached a number of the church families, and Mrs.
Strong's list grew apace ; and that evening at the
midweek service many more additions were made
to it, while word was sent to other families not
present.
Just after dinner on the following day, David
had their trunks and other belongings transferred
from their boarding-house to their new home.
That morning Miriam had left a modest order at
one of the grocery stores, with the request that it
be delivered in the early part of the afternoon.
DAVID BALDWIN 139
While busily engaged in unpacking her trunk and
getting her own room settled, she heard a knock-
ing at the kitchen door.
"The groceryman," said she to herself. "I'm
glad he has come so early." She paused to watch
the boy as he began to unload his basket on her
kitchen table.
" But this is not my order 1 " she exclaimed, see-
ing before her a number of articles she had no
thought of buying. "There's a mistake, some-
where. You have stopped at the wrong house."
The boy consulted the duplicate order. " This
number is 405 Monroe Avenue, ain't it?" he
asked.
" Yes," replied Miriam.
" Then there ain't no mistake, ma'am," said he.
" See, that's what it reads on the order 405 Mon-
roe Avenue."
" But I haven't ordered these things," persisted
Miriam. " The mistake must have been made at
the store."
" I can't say as to that, ma'am," said the
boy.
" The lady who gave the order will be disap-
pointed if she does not get these things in time,"
continued Miriam. " So you'd better find out at
once where they belong."
"Very well, ma'am," said he, loading up his
basket again with a package of coffee, a small
bag of sugar, a can of cocoa, some celery, a small
basket of peaches, and some canned stuff.
140 THE MINISTRY OF
Miriam returned to her work. She was begin'
ning to get just the least impatient with her gro-
cer, when another delivery wagon stopped in front
of the house. The boy brought in two baskets.
As he began to pile the contents of the first on the
table, Miriam recognized the articles she had or-
dered. But the boy unloaded the other basket
also.
" No, no," said she. " These things do not be-
long here," indicating the contents of the second
basket.
"But the order has the same name and ad-
dress," said the boy.
" What can this mean ? " she remonstrated, ex-
amining the piece of paper which he held before
her.
" Perhaps the mister gave the order," suggested
the boy.
" I but my husband knows that we never use
tea," said she, inspecting the packages in ques-
tion.
" Mebbe he wanted some on hand for company."
" And that white flour he knows we are to use
only the whole wheat. I and three kinds of fresh
fruit at once ! Such extravagance 1 No," said
Miriam, turning to the boy, "I am positive that
Mr. Baldwin never gave this order."
" Well, mistakes do sometimes occur," said the
boy, philosophically. " But I'll just leave these
things here and pick them up on my way back.
Sorry, ma'am, to cause you any trouble. But this
DAVID BALDWIN
don't occur very often. The boss is very partic-
ular, and he'll make it hot for somebody," said the
boy as he disappeared.
Miriam returned again to her work. David was
spending the afternoon in the city library and
would not be back till about five-thirty. In less
than a quarter of an hour there was another rap-
ping at the kitchen door. Hastening to see what
was wanted, Miriam was astonished to find another
deliveryman awaiting her. He asked her where
she wanted this bag of potatoes put ? And with-
out waiting for her to reply, the boy ran back to
his wagon and got a large basket piled full of
various articles, which he began to unload on the
kitchen floor. Miriam stood speechless ; but the
boy was too busy to notice her very much. He
was late and must make up for lost time.
While he was thus engaged, another delivery
boy entered unannounced and began to unload his
basket. Packages of oat flakes, shredded wheat,
and other breakfast foods, wafers, cakes, canned
corn, canned tomatoes, canned peas, canned
salmon, canned beef, canned soups, a sack of
sugar, some tea, some coffee, and a number of
other packages whose label or aroma did not re-
veal their contents, were piled up on the kitchen
floor. At this juncture a third boy appeared with
a bushel of apples. Putting the bag down on the
floor, he hastily withdrew and in a moment re-
turned with his basket, which was also heaped up
with small packages. The other boys watched
U2 THE MINISTRY OF
him as he added its contents to the pile already on
the floor.
" But who sent you with all of these things?" cried
Miriam, utterly forgetful that she was the wife of a
minister. " It cannot be that my husband has done
this ! "
The boys laughed, knowingly, and winked at
one another. " Shouldn't wonder, ma'am, if the
church people had something to do with it,"
ventured one of them, as the three left the room.
"Jiminy cracks!" cried another, slapping his
knee, as they turned the corner away from the
kitchen door, " but wasn't she s' prised ! "
" Jest mighty nigh took away her breath ! "
" She couldn't speak for a minute ! My ! But
it was rich!"
" If only the preacher hisself had been there 1
What'll he say, when he sees all them s'pplies? "
" If his wife only don't tell him, he'll be mad, as
mad as a wet hen, I'll bet."
" Why, Bill ? "
" Why ? That's plain 'nough. He'll think he's
got the most extrav'gant woman in the state ! "
The boys were climbing into their wagons.
" Say, Bill ? " called one in an undertone.
" Wouldn't you like to be a preacher ? Think of
gettin' all that stuff without having to pay for it ! "
" But being a minister ain't such a snap after all.
They have to send all their money to the heathen,"
was the reply.
" Then that's why the church folks has to give
DAVID BALDWIN 143
'em things hadn't thought of that," said the other,
as the wagon started down the avenue.
Three or four more delivery wagons stopped
before David returned from the library. Miriam
let everything remain spread out on the kitchen
floor, as the boys had left it ; and when David re-
turned, she met him in the hall, saying that her
order had been delivered and for him to look at
the things and see if they were all right.
" The packages are in the kitchen, dear. You
can step in and look at them. I'll be witl^you in
a moment," said she, going into the sitting-room
on some pretense.
" Why of course they are all right, dearest.
Anything that you've ordered is all right. I hope
you didn't stint " but the sentence was never
finished. " Shades of the patriarchs ! " he ex-
claimed, as his eyes rested on the array of pack-
ages piled up miscellaneously on the kitchen floor.
"Whatever possessed her to order all this!" he
added beneath his breath. He remembered that she
had asked him to accompany her to a grocery and to
help in selecting the supplies ; he remembered also
that he had begged off, telling her that she knew
best what they needed, and for her to order what-
ever she wished.
His heart sank within him. This was her first
purchase alone since their marriage. He'd had
such perfect confidence in her judgment. But
now ! He groaned as he thought of it such ex-
travagance ! He could not understand it. It was
THE MINISTRY OF
so unlike Miriam to order all of these things. His
face was a study as he stood thus, the object of
conflicting emotions. Perhaps he'd have to look
after ordering the supplies himself in the future.
It would doubtless pain Miriam if he expressed
dissatisfaction with what she had done. He would
not say anything about the matter now. It might
be after all that he did not understand how
many things were needful at the beginning of
housekeeping. But and his eye ran over more
than a dozen packages of breakfast food he was
utterly nonplussed. Still he must not appear to
be displeased.
Miriam entered the kitchen and stood watching
him.
" I wish you had gone along, David ; when one
is just beginning, ordering supplies is no small
task, as you can well imagine."
" Yes, it must be quite a task," said he. He
did not say that in his own mind he was de-
termined to go along or to do the ordering him-
self hereafter. "Are you sure, dear, that you
ordered enough?" he asked. He would say al-
most anything rather than let her know how he
felt. But, foolish man that he was to attempt to
deceive his wife, Miriam interpreted his tone and
expression and understood them, while his words
said quite the opposite.
" Oh, we can easily get along now, dear, for a
day or two, don't you think so ? Then we can
order the rest. But I fear, David, you think I have
DAVID BALDWIN 145
already ordered somewhat extravagantly. I see it
in your face ! "
" Really, dearest, I don't think any such thing,"
persisted the poor fellow, striving in every way he
knew to keep from hurting his wife's feelings.
"Why," said he, "if I'd been with you we'd
ordered all this and perhaps more not one pack-
age less, I assure you, dearest." David was
dangerously near the dividing line between truth
and falsehood. Indeed it was doubtful on which
side of that line he stood at that moment. But the
wistfulness and simulated anxiety on Miriam's face
had driven him to it.
" After these things were delivered," said
Miriam, " it did seem as if we could have started
in on less. I was so afraid you'd think I'd been
extravagant. And you know, dearest, that would
break my heart."
Drawing her head to his shoulder David caressed
her rosy cheek. " Extravagant ! " he exclaimed.
" What put such an idea into your mind ? I am
sure that you are the most economical little woman
in all this world."
"And you'll trust me just the same to do the
ordering after this?"
" Certainly, sweetheart." With that face look-
ing up into his own, it was impossible for him to
give any other reply.
" For I couldn't stand it, dearest, to have you
distrust my judgment in such things," said Miriam,
disengaging herself from his arms. " Every woman,
146 THE MINISTRY OF
you know, likes to feel that her husband has full
confidence in her judgment."
" Why certainly. That's no more than natural
and right," he assented.
" But, David, you old lover boy ! I'm sure you
were displeased when you first saw all these things
piled up on the table and on the floor. Now, con-
fess ! Weren't you ? "
" Well, I," began David hesitatingly, as he
sorted out the various kinds of breakfast foods.
" At first I did think the pile was rather large.
But of course no up to date family could begin
housekeeping on less than eleven different kinds
of breakfast foods. But what's this tea, coffee,
white flour ? And here are four bottles of olives,
three baskets of assorted fresh fruits, two packages
of English walnuts, three twenty-five pound sacks
of sugar, five packages of breakfast cocoa and
four packages of biscuit ! Sweetheart ! " cried
David. " I am positive you never ordered all
these things ! "
" I'm somewhat in doubt about it myself, come
to look them over," confessed Miriam.
" Then how in the name of father Abraham did
they get into this kitchen?"
" Here's what I did order," said Miriam, point-
ing to her modest quantity set on one side of the
table. "How the rest came here I am not alto-
gether certain. But I have my suspicions."
" The church people ? "
" Yes."
DAVID BALDWIN H7
" How kind and thoughtful of them 1 " he ex-
claimed drawing Miriam again to him, while his
brow cleared up as if by magic. " But to think,
dearest, for a quarter of a minute I "
" But, dear, you had the best of reasons. I
know it was almost cruel of me to leave you
under the impression that I had ordered all of
this. You endured the ordeal nobly. But come
now to your reward." She led the way to the
dining-room.
It was their first meal with each other by them-
selves. Through the windows the mellow light
of an early October sunset streamed and played
about Miriam's head, making her rich auburn hair,
always one of her charms, a crown of silken gold.
In the boarding-house they had been accustomed
to sitting side by side ; but now as David took his
seat opposite his wife it seemed to him that no
woman had ever before looked half so beautiful.
In her eyes was kindled a love-light, imparting a
radiance to her whole face ; in her hair the sun-
beams were all entangled so that he could not tell
which was sunbeam and which was hair, the blend-
ing was so exquisite.
Just outside, and within view, though not ob-
structing their range of vision to the lake, stood
two or three oak trees arranged in holiday attire
as if in honor of the occasion ; and in the branches
of one of them sat a squirrel eating an acorn and
chattering to his mate in the other tree. There
was a little breeze passing over the surface of the
US DAVID BALDWIN
lake, roughening the water just enough to make
it reflect the sunlight like many little mirrors set
at different angles. The two or three fleecy clouds
on the western horizon were blushing with un-
feigned coyness as the sun was giving them his
good-night caress. If this were the only spot
where such a sunset could be seen, men would
cover it with gold, if necessary, in order to call it
their own. To David and Miriam it was the only
spot. The glory of it rilled their souls as for a
moment they sat drinking in the beauty of the
scene. Bowing their heads, David gave thanks.
" How good it seems to be alone, to have a
dining-room all to ourselves," observed Miriam.
" I am sure we shall be very happy, dear, in our
new home-nest."
" Happy ? Why I never enjoyed a meal like
this before. Such a feeling of satisfaction to sit
down to a table where one is confident that he will
not be confronted with a dish of "
*' David ! " interrupted Miriam, shaking her
finger at him playfully. "You were about to
speak a word which must never, never be uttered
in this dining-room."
ONE of David's newly found joys after his
marriage was their reading of some book
together, or rather his listening to Miriam
while she read to him, during the evenings in
which there were no demands of the church to
disturb them. These evenings together were all
too few. The midweek service, the committee
meetings and other evening gatherings of the
church for one purpose or another, together with
the various social functions to which they were
being invited outside of the church, left sometimes
only two evenings a week to be spent by them-
selves. David was heartily interested in his work,
yet it must be confessed he was more in love with
his wife ; and to watch her face while she read to
him from some interesting book was to feed upon
such food as the dwellers on high Olympus had
never tasted. His soul thrilled within him as he
would sit and watch Miriam as she read. She
seemed the embodiment of purity, innocence,
goodness, love ; and to look upon these, when
one's heart is open to their message, is to be made
a better man.
David had seated himself in his easy chair some
distance from the reading lamp in the centre of
their cozy sitting-room, and was waiting Miriam's
coming. When she entered the room a moment
149
150 THE MINISTRY OF
later, it was with some unfinished sewing in her
hands. David looked up inquiringly.
" I thought perhaps you wouldn't mind reading
this evening, dear ; I have some sewing which I
feel must be finished this week ; and this evening
is the only time I can give to it," said Miriam,
handing David the copy of "Janice Meredith"
they were enjoying together.
" But, sweetheart, can't you let the sewing go ?
You know how much more I enjoy it when you
read. Must it really be finished to-night ? I fear
the little girl is getting too industrious."
" No fear of that ! " she laughed. " But, David,
I must do some of my sewing during the even-
ings ; for I do not feel free to go to Mrs. Strong's
any more."
" To Mrs. Strong's ? " inquired David, some-
what mystified.
" Yes ; you see I've been doing the most of my
sewing on her machine and to-day while I was
using it, it broke."
"Broke?"
"It was an old machine and something just
gave way. Mrs. Strong was very nice about it,
yet I feel dreadfully to have it happen."
" Of course you insisted on getting it fixed ? "
" Certainly ; but Mrs. Strong wouldn't hear to
it. She said it would have happened anyway."
" I am sorry," said David, as he drew his easy
chair nearer the reading lamp. " I am sorry that
the accident happened. I hadn't thought of it
DAVID BALDWIN 151
before, sweetheart, but we'll have to get a sewing-
machine, won't we?"
" As soon as we can afford it, dear. We haven't
the money saved up yet."
David opened the book and read for an hour
while Miriam diligently pursued her sewing,
stitch by stitch. The evening finally wore away
without bringing to David its usual enjoyment, for
the few glances he had stolen of Miriam's face did
not thrill him ; the expression was not of the same
elusive character as when she was reading; it
was when some incident of the story stirred her
emotions that her face carried such depth of
feeling, such richness of inner life as one seldom
sees, save in some great painting of some great
master. But as she bent over her sewing, her ex-
pression was commonplace, though even then she
was good to look upon.
For some time David had been wondering what
he should get Miriam for a birthday present.
This thought was in his mind as he walked down
town the next afternoon. The year before he had
given her a copy of Whittier's poems. Though
it seemed hardly the right thing to present his
wife with another book, he seemed unable to de-
cide on anything else. The matter perplexed him.
In this state of mind he was walking to the ex-
press office to send off a package.
Now it so happened that the store next to the
express office was one where sewing-machines
were sold ; and as David was passing this, he
152 THE MINISTRY OF
suddenly stopped, stood a moment, then entered
the store.
" Good-afternoon," said the proprietor, advanc-
ing to meet him.
" You keep sewing-machines ? "
"Yes, though we sell more than we keep,"
laughed the proprietor.
" That's what I meant, of course/' said David,
laughing. The two men seemed to understand
each other at once.
After a few minutes, David remarked, " Forty-
five dollars ? Isn't that rather high ? "
" Not for that machine," replied the proprietor,
taking his bearings skilfully. " But of course
we have other machines, made by another firm,
practically as good for less money."
" How much less?"
"Twenty dollars less," replied the proprietor.
" That machine there," indicating with his hand,
" can be sold by us for twenty-five dollars : we
warrant it in every respect. We have forty-five
dollar machines for those persons who think an
article is not worth having unless we charge them
a good round price. But the twenty-five dollar
machine is as well made and will give equally
good service."
David stood knitting his brow. "You said
twenty-five dollars ? "
" Yes," replied the dealer.
David wanted to buy the machine but he didn't
have the money with him and he knew he would
DAVID BALDWIN 153
not have it until the beginning of the next month,
nearly three weeks off ; and even the twenty-five
dollars would make a big hole in his month's
salary. The storekeeper read something of all
this in his customer's face.
" That machine is cheap at twenty-five dollars,
cash," said he, emphasizing the word cash. " But
whenever it is desired, we sell it for the same
price on what is called the monthly payment plan
five dollars down and five a month till paid for.
In this way," continued the dealer, " a family can
have the use of the machine while saving up the
money to pay for it. With most young people
just beginning to keep house there are so many
things to buy all at once that this plan of paying
so much a month is frequently adopted."
" You said five dollars down, and then five a
month?"
" Yes."
" That would make five months before the last
payment," said David more to himself than to the
dealer.
" Yes, and your wife would have the use of the
machine all that time."
" I it hadn't occurred to me to buy a sewing-
machine till last evening," said David, laying a
bill in the hand of the dealer. " So I'm not pre-
pared to-day to pay for it in full. You send up
the machine this afternoon, and I'll drop in and
see you on the first of each month till the account
is balanced. Will that be satisfactory ? "
154 THE MINISTRY OF
" Perfectly," replied the dealer.
That evening at the supper table Miriam said,
" It was so good of you, dear, to get it especially
when you need so many books for your study.
But I don't see how I could do without a sewing-
machine much longer sewing by hand is so
tedious."
The next evening they had together David en-
joyed the satisfaction of watching Miriam's face
as he listened to her well-modulated voice, while
she read further into the story of " Janice Mere-
dith."
The week had not passed before there was a
change in the weather. The delightful days of
October had given place to the beginnings of No-
vember, with clouds heavy and lowering, jealous
of letting too much sunshine through.
" My ! but it's cold up in the study," said David
rubbing his hands over the kitchen fire. He had
come down early to dinner, without being called,
a thing very unusual for him who prized each one
of the morning hours.
" Cold ? So it must be," said Miriam, busy put-
ting the finishing touches to the dinner. " I fear,
David, this roast is not as good as what we've
been getting. It's so tough ! "
" Tough ? Why I told the man two weeks ago
if he sent us any more tough pieces we'd deal else-
where."
;< I know. And, dear, the meat has been very
good since then till to-day. This piece is simply
DAVID BALDWIN 155
awful as tough as sole leather. I know we won't
be able to eat it."
" I'll have to blow him up again," said David.
" Perhaps he needs it every week or two."
Though the dining-room was immediately off
from the kitchen it was too cool even there for
comfort.
" Hadn't you better start the furnace this after-
noon, dear ? This sudden change in the weather
may continue for several days, and it's hardly safe
to depend longer on our little wood stove in the
sitting-room."
" That reminds me ! I haven't ordered any fur-
nace coal yet. I must do so at once."
As Mr. Brand dealt in wood and coal, David
went to his office to order a ton of furnace coal
sent over to the house at once.
"You're living in Professor Wilson's house?
For the past three years we've furnished Professor
Wilson with coal, and it takes nine tons to run his
furnace through an ordinary season. One year
he had to order a ton extra. But that was a very
severe winter, two years ago. It will save you
considerable annoyance to say nothing about the
dirt if we put in all you want at one time."
"I'm sorry, but " began David.
" And so far as paying for it is concerned," con-
tinued the clerk, with whom he was talking, " you
can suit your own convenience about that. Many
of our customers pay so much a month till the
whole amount is balanced."
156 THE MINISTRY OF
" Very well," said David. " If you prefer to do
so, put in the nine tons to-morrow and I will drop
in and see you once a month. Here's pay for one
ton." David handed the clerk a five dollar bill on
top of which were three silver dollars.
" Costs something to run a furnace here in Min-
nesota," he observed as the clerk was making out
his receipt.
" Yes, coal is rather expensive, though the deal-
ers are handling it at a pretty close margin. It's
the railroads that make the money. Freight rates
from Chicago here are very high."
" Oh, I almost forgot. We shall need some
more coal for the kitchen stove before long. How
much will I need for the season ? "
"Perhaps two tons more. Shall we add two
tons of chestnut coal to your order ? "
"Yes," said David, turning to go. "Though
we do not need it just yet, it might as well be put
in with the other. By the way, is Mr. Brand
here?"
" Yes. Do you wish to see him ? "
" If I may."
The clerk withdrew through a door marked
" private."
" Step this way, Mr. Baldwin," said he, reap-
pearing after a moment.
Mr. Brand met his young pastor very cordially,
pressing him to sit down for a few minutes' chat.
As his caller rose to leave a few minutes later, Mr
Brand said,
DAVID BALDWIN 157
" My wife and I will be glad to have you and
Mrs. Baldwin take dinner with us next Monday
evening."
" Thank you. I'm sure Mrs. Baldwin has no
engagement for Monday evening, and we shall be
glad to come."
" If anything should come up, feel perfectly free
to let us know/' said Mr. Brand, following David
to the door. "A pastor's time, as I know very
well, is not always at his own disposal."
David, on leaving Mr. Brand's office, spent the
remainder of the afternoon making calls, the first
of which was on a family living some two miles
out in a little suburb called Glen Park. The father
and mother were old people, too old to get out to
church, both bowed down with the effects of many
years of hard work. The other member of the
home was a son, himself a man almost past mid-
dle life, an invalid, having suffered for many years
from articular rheumatism. As David sat and
talked with these three old people, for the son
seemed as aged as either of his parents, it was easy
to speak of the deepest things of human experience ;
the atmosphere of the home invited it ; and as the
conversation continued, David felt that he was in
the presence of those who could teach him many
things the unobtrusive sanctity of that home was
so real and genuine, the hard experiences of life
had developed and ripened so many of the rarer
qualities of spirit. Religion of the highest type
was here embodied, for they had learned to live
158 THE MINISTRY OF
their lives in the consciousness of the divine Pres-
ence. Before leaving, David knelt with the family
in prayer it seemed the only natural way of clos-
ing his call.
" Pastor, we've enjoyed your call so much.
Wife and I can't get out to church as we once
could ; but our hearts are there."
" I know you must be very busy," said the wife.
" But come and see us as often as you can. Will-
iam, poor boy, is so glad whenever any one calls."
David's heart was full as he walked out to the
car ; a great uplift had come into his soul, some-
thing like that which comes when one has been lis-
tening to certain kinds of music. His two other
calls that afternoon were quite different ; the con-
versation was stilted, without purpose, on any
casual topic, flitting from one subject to another.
Yet as the young pastor walked away from each of
these it seemed to him that he had done the best
he could. But how poor that best seemed !
It was not long after this that David began to
feel the need of increasing his library.
" Yes," said he to Miriam at supper, " I must
have some more books. Thus far I have been
able to prepare only one sermon a week."
" But you have preached twice every Sunday."
" In the evenings," he continued in reply, " I
have used sermons which I had on hand have
worked them over a little and they have answered
pretty well. I have only a very few more in re-
serve three or four which amount to anything.
DAVID BALDWIN 159
When these are gone it will be necessary to pre-
pare two new ones each week, and I don't see how
I can do it without increasing my working
library."
" Of course you must get more books, David."
" I see no way out of it," said he ; " though I dis-
like to go in debt for them."
" Wouldn't the Publication Society send you
what you find are really necessary, and let you pay
for them by remitting so much a month ? This
wouldn't be exactly going in debt for them."
" Yes, I am sure they would."
" And you could be having the use of the books
all the time you are paying for them."
That evening David made out a list of books he
felt would be of greatest use to him. More than
once he crossed off one title to give place to an-
other which he felt he must have. The Publica-
tion Society wrote that they would be pleased to
forward the selection and let him pay so much a
month as he suggested. After much self-denial
and many substitutions David succeeded in keeping
his list down to forty odd dollars' worth. He wrote
the society that he would meet this sum by send-
ing five dollars on the first of each month.
" Books count up so," said he to Miriam. " I
had to leave out of my list so many I ought to
have : but I set the limit at fifty dollars."
" It won't be long before you can send in an-
other order, dear. You can add the others then."
On the first of December the church treasurer
160 THE MINISTRY OF
handed David an envelope containing his salary
for the month just expired.
" Suppose I give this to you, Miriam ; what
would you do with it ? " asked David, tossing the
envelope into her lap.
" What would I do with it? Why, just what you
are going to do with it, dear."
" But how do you know what I am going to do
with a whole month's salary eighty-three dollars
and thirty-three cents? You must be a mind
reader?"
" Perhaps I am," answered Miriam. " Suppose
you write on this piece of paper what I dictate,
and then you can tell whether I am or not."
" Very well," said David. " Though I'm more
than half inclined to believe you are a mind reader
without the formality of a test."
Miriam shutting her eyes dictated a few lines
which read as follows :
Living expenses $20.00
Rent 16.66
Monthly payment on furniture - 20.00
" " " sewing-machine 5.00
" coal - 8.00
" " " books - 5.00
" " " encyclopaedia
" Encyclopaedia? " exclaimed David, astonished,
" I haven't ordered any encyclopaedia."
" But you know you wanted one so badly. I
couldn't bear to think of you not having it."
DAVID BALDWIN 161
" And you've ordered it ? "
" Yes, David, dearest, I ordered it. I knew you
needed an encyclopaedia worse than I needed my
sewing-machine. And I couldn't bear to use the
machine so long as you were without necessary
books, for your work."
" But, Miriam, I '
" I wanted to get it as a Christmas present for
you. You remember you told me you were going
to get it as soon as we could afford it. Just after
you sent off that order to the Publication Society
bookstore, an agent called. You were out. So,
dear, I ordered it as your Christmas present,
though it will be shipped before that time."
" Perhaps it will be better if you leave such things
to me after this." David was displeased and
couldn't help showing it. " Of course, I suppose I
did say something about intending to get the en-
cyclopaedia some time. But I can get along very
well without it there are any number of books I
need worse just now ; and, besides, oh, well, I sup-
pose there's no use saying any more about it."
Miriam sat speechless. David, picking up a
newspaper, buried himself behind its open double-
page. Neither spoke. Miriam's under lip began
to quiver ; she opened her mouth as if to speak,
yet did not speak, as if afraid to trust her voice.
With set face David sat reading the newspaper
it mattered not that it was day before yesterday's
paper. It absorbed him. He did not see his wife
get up, hesitate an instant as if wavering between
162 THE MINISTRY OF
a desire to be alone, and a longing to throw her
arms about her husband's neck ; he did not look
up till she was nearly through the door, but it was
soon enough to catch a side view of her face.
The tears were streaming down her cheeks.
Though the sight of Miriam's tears scalded
David to the heart, he did not speak ; and Miriam
passed on to her room. Left alone David began
pacing the room, his mind confused, perplexed;
yet he was sure he had not done anything uncalled
for. What had happened, anyway ? Could it be
that he was to blame ? He did not think so, yet a
suspicion haunted him. He had not meant to
speak unkindly. He tried to recall what he had
said. What was it that had hurt her so?
One of the most delicate problems of life had
arisen in this newly established home the problem
of mutual adjustment between husband and wife.
Their love for each other was beyond question, yet
almost without an instant's warning this storm had
arisen, a thunder-bolt from a clear sky ; so deli-
cately poised are the affections between man and
woman, so easily disturbed by look or word, so
uncertain are the moods and caprices of our human
nature ! The art of living is sometimes called the
finest of the arts. But is not the finest of the arts
that of living together ?
David was beginning to feel thoroughly un-
comfortable, pacing up and down that little sitting-
room. The ice in his heart had all melted, leav-
ing opportunity for the warmth of his true affec-
DAVID BALDWIN 163
tions to do its work. A few more turns about the
room, a few more futile attempts to keep down
the rising pressure, and David was back to his
better self. ' He went to Miriam's room where he
found her lying on her bed, sobbing as if her heart
would break.
Kneeling by her side he put his arms about her
neck and drew her head to his shoulder.
" Will you forgive me, Miriam, dearest ? I am
sorry that I spoke to you as I did. I do not know
why such harsh words "
" Don't say that, David ! I was to blame. I
should have told you. It was wrong of me to
give the order without consulting you; it was
wrong to spend so much money. But the agent
said we could pay for the set by sending him five
dollars a month ; and, dear, I did so want you to
have the books. But perhaps he'll take them
back if I "
" Indeed, sweetheart, we'll not think of such a
thing ! I wouldn't have you cancel the order for
anything. The encyclopaedia is just what I want."
" But the other books the ones you need
more "
"Miriam, dearest, there are no books I need
more. Forgive me for saying the cruel word.
Let's rub it out. I didn't mean it, though I thought
I did at the time."
" Are you very sure, David ? "
" Very sure, sweetheart absolutely certain."
Miriam's tears had ceased flowing, but her sobs
164: THE MINISTRY OF
kept surging up one after another in spite of her
efforts to keep them down. David kissed her as-
suringly on the cheek.
" The ' old man ' gets the better of me once in a
while, sweetheart. But come, let us get back
where we left off."
With his arm about her they returned to the
sitting-room.
" You were giving me a sample of your power
at mind reading, sweetheart, when that that
storm came up."
"Yes. The last item was the monthly payment
on the encyclopaedia."
"Which makes," said David, casting his eye
over the column of figures, " seventy-nine dollars
and sixty-six cents. I must confess, sweetheart,
that so far your mind reading ability is beyond
question. Can you give me still further proofs
of it?"
" Yes. Next month and the month after and
the one after that you will spend this much money
in exactly the same way."
" Correct again," laughed David. " You are
accurate enough to be a professional. But what
am I going to do with all the rest of each month's
salary the three dollars and sixty-seven cents
which we may, so to speak, call our own ? "
" For one thing, David, you must get yourself a
pair of shoes. You are needing them badly.
That will take "
" Three dollars and fifty cents," admitted David
DAVID BALDWIN 165
as he glanced down at the crack in the side of the
shoe on his left foot. " My right shoe seems very
good yet: I don't need to buy two shoes one
will do," he laughed. " I'll buy a left one this
month and perhaps we will be able to get the
right one next month. Seems to me you must be
needing something by this time also, sweetheart ?"
" No," she hastened to answer, drawing her feet
under her dress as she did so, " my best shoes are
almost as good as new."
XI
ABOUT eight o'clock one Saturday evening
the door-bell rang furiously and long, and,
before Miriam could answer, the ring was
followed by a vigorous knocking, the one desiring
admittance not having heard the bell ringing far
away in the kitchen.
" Is he in the parson ? I was told he lived
here."
" Yes, Mr. Baldwin is in," replied Miriam. " You
wish to see him ? Will you please step into the
sitting-room ? I will call him."
" In jest a minit," said the young man turning
to a horse and cutter which Miriam now observed
in front of the house. She heard him say :
" This is the place, Mandy, and the parson's in."
The young man tied and blanketed his horse,
and helped a young woman out of the cutter. She
said something to him in an undertone, and he,
reaching down under the seat, brought along
with them into the house something tied up in a
bag.
"I'd clean furgot about it, Mandy," said he.
" Shows how much a feller needs a body to look
after J im."
The girl smiled gratefully as he looked fondly
into her face, lit up from the light on the porch.
166
DAVID BALDWIN 167
" We had an awful time a findin' where the par-
son lived," said he, as Miriam conducted the two
into her comfortable sitting-room. " Mandy,
p'r'aps you'd better set up to the stove I'll be
gol b u t there ain't any stove in th' room."
Meanwhile Miriam had taken the girl in hand.
" You've been riding ? Just loosen your wraps
and sit here by the register. I'll put on a little
more draft " pulling the chain up a notch or two.
"It must be very cold riding this evening?"
" Yes," answered the girl, taking the proffered
seat. " It was quite cold, but I didn't mind it one
bit."
" You bet 'twas cold ! " exclaimed the young
man, rubbing his hands over the heat from the
register. "One of them things is 'most as good
es a stove, ain't they, Mandy?" indicating the
register. " I know how they work," he continued,
addressing himself to his sweetheart. "They
have a big stove down in th' celler, an' on this is
a big tank. They fill this tank with a lot of air
jest jam it in they heat this air real hot an' then
they have pipes a leadin' this air thet's het to th'
different rooms. It's quite a scheme, ain't it?
Pretty dum nigh es good es havin' a stove.
Mebby we'll have one some day, Mandy."
" I guess I'd ruther have a stove," answered the
girl, pleased with the display of knowledge her
lover had given before the wife of the minister.
She knew that her present choice of a stove would
elevate her in her lover's esteem.
168 THE MINISTRY OF
David's study door opened and closed and he
was heard coming down the steps.
" Good-evening," said he, entering the sitting-
room and shaking hands with the two callers.
" You have driven in from out of town ? " glanc-
ing at their heavy wraps.
" Yes ; from Carr's Corners thet's nine mile
from here a good nine mile." ,
"All of that, I should say," said David. "You
remember, dear," turning to Miriam "we rode
out there on our wheels not long ago."
"Very good farmin' land outthet way," said the
young man. " Some of it's a little rough yet
we're jest agettin' it in shape. Produces big
crops none better in the state."
For ten minutes or more David had to sit and
talk " crops " to this caller who persisted in sticking
to that subject, even though David tried once or
twice to get him away from it. The girl was
silent, though at first she had talked a little to
Miriam. Catching her lover's eye, she gave him
a sign as if to say, "Why don't you tell the min-
ister what you want and let's be done with it ? "
Plainly the young fellow was honestly attempt-
ing to do that very thing to let the minister know
what they had come to him for. But, somehow,
no good place came, as it seemed to him, to in-
troduce the subject uppermost in his mind. So
he struggled on bravely for another ten minutes,
talking animatedly on the qualities of various
kinds of stock, which varieties were better for but-
DAVID BALDWIN 169
ter and which for beef; then the conversation
turned to the topic of farm implements and ma-
chinery.
David was beginning to get restless. He had
planned to give the evening to putting the finish-
ing touches on his morning sermon for the mor-
row, as his time had been broken into by a funeral
on Thursday of the week. Again he tried to lead
the young man to declare the object of his visit,
by asking him some questions concerning his
home. This led to a graphic, if disjointed, ac-
count of his caller's family history. David began
to feel, however, that he had touched the right
chord. He was amused if a little impatient ; the
young man was now approaching the point. His
father had died some time ago ; they had had
their struggles to keep the mortgage from being
foreclosed. But they had done it. Lately, dur-
ing the year, his mother had died and he had
been getting along as best he could with a younger
sister as housekeeper.
" But a man needs a wife, specially when he's
got cows to look after," said he, glancing at the
girl, who seemed greatly relieved that her sus-
pense was now so near at an end. " Things have
been runnin' behind ever sence mother died I
mean in the house. Not that my little sister hain't
done th' best she knowed how. She hes. But
she's young too young to look after cows. And
es me and Mandy had been keepin' company to-
gether now goin' on nigh two years an' "
170 THE MINISTRY OF
" It will be two years come Easter," interrupted
the girl.
"Two years come Easter," he continued.
" Well, only this week we d'cided to git married.
And so we've druv in to see if you'll do the job
and how much it'll cost us ? I've heard of fellers
payin' es much es five dollars. I couldn't go thet
steep. But I thought es both o' our families,
mine and Mandy's, had allers leaned toward your
church, you'd do it fur us es cheap es anybody,
an' p'r'aps a little cheaper, seeing how thet we'd
allus had a leanin' in your d'rection."
He looked at Mandy, who nodded her head in
support of her lover's statements as to their re-
ligious " leanin'."
" I can't pay no five dollars ; but I thought
p'r'aps you might do the job for us, say, fur a dol-
lar?" The young man raised his eyes to the
minister's face.
" It's not customary for a clergyman to make
any definite charge for performing the marriage
ceremony," answered David, succeeding with
some effort in keeping down his amusement.
" We take whatever fee the groom sees fit to
give."
"Then you'll do it fur a dollar?" asked the
prospective groom. The moment was filled with
anxiety, as David hesitated. " You see we jest
d'cided this week to have it done so soon,
an' "
A look from Miriam brought David to a de-
DAVID BALDWIN 171
cision. "Yesi if that is what you wish to give,
I will perform the ceremony. You have your
license, of course?"
" Yes," handing David a long envelope badly
crumpled which he took from his overcoat pocket.
David examined the license.
" Very well," said he ; " I'll get my book."
In a moment David returned from his study,
having his pastor's manual opened at one of the
shorter forms of the marriage service. The
lovers were holding a whispered consultation, and
David considerately occupied himself at the other
end of the room. From snatches of the conversa-
tion which reached his unwilling ears, it seemed
that the girl was urging the young man to make
some disclosure before the ceremony. This he
seemed unwilling to do. She, however, insisted
and finally gained her point.
" Mandy thinks," began the young man with
evident reluctance, " thet I should tell you b'fore
the job's done thet we ain't got no dollar with us
seein' there wa'n't nothin' much to take to
market jest now to get no money with. But we
thought mebby you wouldent mind takin' your
pay in something we could bring along. So
we've brung along some beeswax. I told her thet
beeswax was jest exactly es good es cash and thet
you could sell it at any of the stores, seein' we
didn't get to town time enough. You don't mind
takin' your pay in beeswax, do you? I told
Mandy you wouldent mind I knowed you
172 THE MINISTRY OF
wouldent ; but she says I must tell you before
the marry in' s done and not wait till afterward, es
I wanted to, knowin' you wouldent mind."
David, again amused at this unexpected turn
of affairs, waited patiently for the young man to
conclude his speech which seemed difficult to
draw to a close. The girl sat looking appre-
hensively from the face of her lover to that of the
minister, anxious, yet confident she had insisted
on what was right. Just inside the doorway,
where the young man had left it on entering the
room, was a bag containing, doubtless, the pro-
posed fee.
" Under the circumstances," began David, " I
won't mind taking as my fee a dollar's worth of
beeswax, though it was well to mention this fact
before the ceremony was performed. It puts the
matter on a different basis."
" Thet's what I told John," said the girl, pleased
that the minister had taken her view of the matter.
"Tell him the rest of it, John."
John hesitated.
" But, Mandy, there ain't no use till after
"John, tell th' parson th' rest now or there
won't be any after"
" Well, Parson," began the reluctant John,
" what Mandy wants me to tell you is jest this
by actual weight th' beeswax we've got in thet
there bag ain't wuth quite a dollar. But it's A
Number One every pound of it ! At market
price it 'ud fetch jest about seventy-five cents.
DAVID BALDWIN 173
But it's all thet me an' Mandy could scrape up
'tween us, seein' thet we had nothin' else to turn
off jest now. Would you mind doin' the job an'
waitin' on us till spring, say, for th' rest of your
pay?"
This further explanation of the prospective
groom aroused in David the suspicion that the
young man had over-persuaded the girl to consent
to this hastily arranged marriage, and that very
probably she would be glad to have the marriage
postponed till John could get his financial condi-
tion in better shape.
" It is my opinion," said he, ignoring the young
man's question and addressing both of them, " it
is my opinion that you two had better wait a
while before getting married. Would it not be
better to get a little money ahead before taking
this important step? Suppose you wait until
spring. Come to me then."
The minister's well-meaning advice was in-
terrupted by the young woman herself. Touch-
ing John on the arm, she whispered some words
not intended for the minister's ear.
" Say, John, ask him if if he couldn't marry us
now as far as as," as far as the beeswax goes?"
With no little effort David with outward gravity
faced the new situation.
"But if both of you really wish to be married
now," said he, before the young man had time to
speak, "I will perform the ceremony at once.
As for the fee take the beeswax home with you,
174 DAVID BALDWIN
and some time next spring when it is perfectly
convenient you may bring us a jar of butter or
some fresh eggs as many or as few as you wish,
and it will be all right."
Within five minutes David was reascending the
stairs, two steps at a time. But as he sat down
to work on his sermon, the flow of his thoughts
was more than once interrupted by the remem-
brance of the phrase " marry us now as far as the
beeswax goes."
He laughed aloud.
" Did she think that the marriage ceremony
could be performed on the instalment plan, I
wonder ? "
XII
THE days of each week slipped by all too
rapidly for the comfort of the young pas-
tor ; for each Sunday brought with it the
necessity of having two sermons in shape. By
the time his first year at Tioga was half over,
David was beginning to be sorely perplexed for
sermon material ; he had preached, as it seemed to
him, on almost every conceivable phase of the
Christian life and experience ; and he was filled
with an awful dread lest he should be found repeat-
ing himself.
On Sunday evenings he and Miriam had their
lunch after the service, and for an hour or more
they would sit at the table visiting, like like the
lovers they were.
" I wonder what in the world I can get to preach
about next Sunday ? " he sometimes would say.
" I haven't a single idea left."
" But you said the same thing last Sunday
evening, dear; and see what excellent sermons
you had worked out by the end of the week."
" Well, perhaps my morning sermon wasn't so
bad ; but this evening I had to go pretty much on
my muscle, as we boys used to say in college."
" But I didn't notice anything out of the way
this evening, dear ; it was all right. And this
morning several of the ladies, Mrs. James, Mrs.
175
176 THE MINISTRY OF
Wood, Mrs. Terry and perhaps some others, yes
and Mrs. Strong, of course, all had something nice
to say of the sermon as I met them after the service."
"That's only because you are the minister's
wife."
" I am sure these ladies are sincere, David.
They wouldn't say they enjoyed the sermon, if they
didn't mean it. You don't believe that Mrs. James
would commend anything unless she really thought
it was good ? "
" Well, no ; I hardly think Mrs. James would,"
admitted David reluctantly. "Isn't she a fine
woman ! I hope, Miriam, when you get to be her
age, about forty years from now, you'll be just like
her."
" Indeed, nothing would please me more. To
be in her presence is such an inspiration just to be
near her makes one feel that goodness is worth
while."
" And I can always preach better when she is at
church. You know she was away a few weeks
visiting her daughter in Chicago. I felt the dif-
ference. What sermons a man could preach if he
had a house full of such listeners as Mrs. James 1 "
" Deacon Long isn't he a good listener? "
" My dear, don't mention Deacon Long in the
same breath with Mrs. James. They're as unlike
as lead and gold." David had folded his napkin
and was pushing back from the table.
" I know, dear, they are very unlike. Yet the
deacon must be a very good man."
DAVID BALDWIN 177
" What makes you think so ? "
" He seems to prize your sermons very highly.
Nearly every Sunday while you are preaching I see
him taking notes, writing your best thoughts down
in a little book."
" Is that so? I hadn't noticed it. Perhaps the
deacon is more interested than I have been giv-
ing him credit for being. Somehow I'd got the
impression he didn't care very much for my ser-
mons. You know he is very conservative."
" But he listens so attentively, and though some-
times his eyes are shut, I know he is listening just
the same. For when you've said something espe-
cially helpful, even when he seemed to be asleep,
out comes his note-book and pencil and he writes
the sentence down. Isn't it fine that so old a
man, even if he is conservative, can appreciate the
newer ideas ? "
" Perhaps the deacon doesn't always recognize
the new theology when he hears it. At any rate I
am glad he is interested. It may be I'll have to re-
vise my opinion of him yet."
" Does he never say anything to you about your
sermons, dear ? I should think he would he's the
only one in the audience that takes notes on them
except, of course, the reporter, Mr. Waller, when
he is there."
" Well, no ; nothing in particular. Yes, once he
did say something, and at the time I thought it
gave me a clue to his attitude toward me."
"What did he say?"
178 THE MINISTRY OF
"It's scarcely worth repeating, but he asked me
one Sunday whether or not I believed in the
divinity of Christ. His question was very abrupt ;
and when I assured him that I did so believe, he
seemed, I fancied, disappointed.
"'I got the impression,' said he, 'from some-
thing you said last Sunday morning, that you
didn't accept the virgin birth of our Saviour.'
" ' Perhaps we may look at this subject from dif-
ferent angles of vision, deacon,' I replied, not wish-
ing to enter into a discussion with the old gentle-
man ; * yet rest assured,' said I, ' no one accepts the
divinity of Christ more heartily than I do.'
" ' But if he wasn't conceived of the Holy Ghost,
how can he be divine?' the deacon persisted.
Fortunately some other people came toward the
door just then and without appearing to do so I got
away from him. I have a suspicion, Miriam, that
Deacon Long is not altogether easy in his own
mind as to my orthodoxy."
" Has he said anything further to you on the
subject?" asked Miriam.
"No. Though I shouldn't wonder if he has
come to know what my position is."
" How is that, if you didn't tell him ? "
" It was this way. Mr. Brand, you know, has
put himself out of the way to be nice to us."
" Yes ; he has invited us to his home, time after
time, yet I never feel altogether comfortable in his
presence."
" But he was doing so much to make it pleasant
DAVID BALDWIN 179
for us, and as he had been a pastor himself years
ago before his health failed, I suppose it was only
natural for me to be a little more confidential with
him than I would have been otherwise ; but if I
had it to do over again, I wouldn't take Mr. Brand
into my confidence on any subject. I have felt
since that he was just leading me on."
" Why, David, I never mistrusted that Mr.
Brand would do such a thing as that 1 May it not
be possible that you are misjudging him ?"
" Indeed, I wish it were so. But I am morally
certain that I am not misjudging him. The last
time we were up there, was the week after Deacon
Long had questioned me on the divinity of Christ.
Well, somehow, I do not remember just what did
bring the subject up Mr. Brand and I got to talk-
ing on the same topic the divinity of Christ ; on
the attitude of modern scholarship toward the vir-
gin birth narratives, and what views the various
Chicago professors in the Divinity school held ;
and during our conversation which by no means
was a one-sided one, I felt he was quite in sym-
pathy with the modern position. At least his re-
marks created that impression in my mind ; and in
reverting to Deacon Long's attempt to catechise me,
I frankly stated my own conviction that in accept-
ing the divinity of Christ it did not seem at all
necessary to adopt the early church's attempt to
explain it. I told him that I preferred to look
upon the virgin birth accounts as attempts on the
part of the early biographers of Christ to put a
J80 THE MINISTRY OF
physical basis or explanation under a life which
they recognized as divine and felt the need of ex-
plaining ; but that it seemed best to me not to at-
tempt to explain the divinity of Christ by any such
physical circumstance or condition as that alluded
to in the virgin birth accounts, but to leave the
whole matter unexplained, to accept Christ as the
master of our lives and joyfully live in the inspira-
tion of his presence, believing in him for what he
was and is the incarnation of God's highest and
holiest message to the human race."
David was greatly animated in giving Miriam
this account of his conversation with Mr. Brand ;
the subjects of the new theology always stirred
him.
" Of course you felt freer to discuss these sub-
jects with him than you would with many others
in the church," observed Miriam, as she began to
gather up the dishes and set the things away.
"It's so hard not to be confidential, especially
when people are so kind as the Brands have
been."
" Yes ; but in view of what has since happened,
I see that Mr. Brand was just leading me on ; that
he is not at all in sympathy with modern thought."
" That was very, very mean of him ! I had no idea
he was such a man. I can scarcely believe it."
" Nor I. Yet I am coming to think he is a most
perfect combination of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde.
In some respects he is goodness personified. In
others, well, I am being compelled to believe he
DAVID BALDWIN 181
is capable of almost any underhanded trick or
meanness to carry his purpose."
" Why, David ! I am surprised to hear you
speak in this way ! They have been so good to
us. You've never said a word of this to me
before."
" No. I was waiting to be certain. Mrs. Wood
you know she is very much in sympathy with what
I am trying to do the other day she advised me
to be very careful of what I said to Mr. Brand.
She had been calling at the Longs', and the deacon
had given her a full report of my conversation
with Mr. Brand. She said though the deacon was
simply horrified at my heresy, as he terms it, yet
he was strangely elated over the fact of having
made the discovery; for it seems that he and
Brand have been working together to get me to
commit myself on some of these subjects which I
have studiously and religiously refrained from pre-
senting from the pulpit."
" But you refrained from presenting them only
because you thought the people many of them
were not yet ready for these newer ideas, didn't
you, dear?"
" Yes. While the University element of the con-
gregation is eager for the newer thought and
ready for it, that part of the audience not touched
by the University or by the modern ideas in edu-
cation and literature, had to be prepared, little by
little for many of the things I would like to say to
them."
182 THE MINISTRY OF
"That's only natural. Christ found the same
necessity ; and so does every teacher of new ideas
in religion. We must be content to go slowly,
dear ; and yet one can remain true to the message
that burns within his own heart, even though he
may think it best to keep some things in reserve
for a while, as you are trying to do, dear."
" But being true to his message led Christ to the
cross. It was just such people as Brand and Long
who brought him there people who regarded it
a crime for another to have ideas of God different
from their own. I am afraid these two men will
cause me trouble yet. Mr. Brand has great in-
fluence in the church."
" But, dear, think of the number of families who
are so much in sympathy with the newer thought,
and the increasing number of students coming to
hear you. I wouldn't mind what these two men
do think, though of course it is annoying."
"They are watching me, that's certain. Of
course, I shall continue to be moderate as mod-
erate as possible in my pulpit utterances. But.
any one can see that all of my sermons are
based on and grow out of the newer point of
view."
" That's what makes them so helpful, dear ;
they are so vital and make religion such a real
part of life. I couldn't bear to listen to you if you
preached such sermons as Mr. Brand evidently
would like to hear. But I must go now, dear. It's
getting late." She kissed him on the forehead as
DAVID BALDWIN 183
she was leaving the room. " Don't stay up too
long burying your sermons under that story.
Good-night, dear."
"Good-night, sweetheart ; pleasant dreams."
David adjusts himself to his easy chair, throw-
ing one leg carelessly over an arm of the chair,
and leans back so that a good light falls on the
page. The book is one he has drawn from the
city library, a very interesting story the librarian
had said, when he inquired for something to read
Sunday evening after church. The librarian had
come to know about what the pastor of the First
Church wanted ; for just before retiring on Sunday
evening, David always read the most interesting
book he could get, until he became thoroughly
interested in the story and was loath to give it up.
Then he would go to bed and soon be fast asleep.
If he did not lose himself thus, in some story be-
fore retiring, his sermons of the day would be
going through his mind all night, either keeping
him awake or disturbing his rest.
David hears the clock on the mantel strike
twelve ; he will read only fifteen minutes more ;
the half hour strikes and David starts he will go
to bed in just a minute or two just as soon as he
finishes that chapter. At the end of the chapter
the situation is almost too interesting to leave
just one more chapter, is his resolve.
With interest at the keenest point, David closes
the book and steals softly to bed. The clock
strikes one, but he does not hear it. Blessed,
184 DAVID BALDWIN
blessed sleep God's choicest gift to weary brain
and tired body ! Sleep well and long.
Blessed, blessed gift of imagination ! For
through its gracious service this tired preacher
had, so to speak, taken his jaded mind out walk-
ing amidst scenes delightful and refreshing,
changing his thought, inviting relaxation, en-
abling him to dismiss everything which tended to
frighten that shy and capricious visitor, the angel
of repose.
XIII
" "IT ET me see when is the time for our an-
nual collection for foreign missions ? It's
-* * a week from Sunday, isn't it ? "
" Yes, a week from next Sunday. "
"So far as I can see, it will be just impossible
for us to give anything this year. I am sorry, but
I don't see how we can do otherwise. This liv-
ing on the instalment plan, having so many
things to meet each month, cuts us down to the
last notch."
" But, David, we're having the use of the things
and we couldn't very well do without any of them.
Of course the sewing-machine is all paid for.
That's one thing less to think about."
" But its place was soon taken by that suit of
clothes I had to order. I wonder if we'll ever get
out of the woods, having commenced this way ? "
" Why, yes, dear. It won't be long before sev-
eral of the things will be paid for."
" But for every one we pay off it seems we have
two other things we ought to get."
It was Monday and David was blue. Blueness,
however, was not always an accompaniment to
David's Mondays, only to one now and then,
whose color became occasionally so intense as to
make up for the Mondays that were not blue. On
these days Miriam had learned to discount many
185
186 THE MINISTRY OF
things her husband said by about fifty per cent.
She was learning also how she could best break
the power of these spells : that one of the surest anti-
dotes was to take tea with the Stewart family
where the abounding life currents were so normal
and so strong. David would soon catch some-
thing of their movement, be drawn out of his little
eddy where the water was getting unwholesome,
and before the time for their return home, he would
be quite himself again. During these blue times,
calls on some of the other church families had
just the opposite effect, making his mood more
severely intense. These families Miriam endeav-
ored to shun during these trying days, as she
would have endeavored to shun exposing David
to some terrible disease ; but at the Strongs', the
Stones', the James' and the Stewarts', especially at
the Stewarts', it was always well to call when David
had the blues. And a call there usually meant
staying to supper. Nor did this inconvenience
the Stewart household in the least two more
plates were laid, though more often only one, for
there was usually one extra plate on their ample
board. Not a single thing extra was cooked, and
there was no flurrying, no fussing, no stewing, no
apologies ; just a hearty welcome and always the
same.
But before Miriam said anything of all this
which was in her mind, David continued, anent
their financial situation and the missionary collec-
tion.
DAVID BALDWIN 187
" It will not be setting a very good example un-
less we contribute something," said he, dejectedly ;
" yet for the life of me I don't see how we can do
it. I shall not be able this month to pay for those
things we had to get at the drug store."
" I have been thinking of this collection for some
time, dear ; and I've succeeded in saving nearly a
dollar toward it."
" Saving nearly a dollar ? Miriam, what can
you mean ? " Astonishment was written all over
David's face.
" Well," confessed Miriam, " for several weeks
I've had this collection in mind, as I knew just
how we are situated financially ; so I set out to
save a little and I'll have a dollar by a week from
Sunday."
"But how how have you done it?" persisted
David.
Miriam hesitated. " That's my secret ; per-
haps I don't care to let you know all my secrets."
" Very well " the little blue devils were ac-
countable for the tone in which he said it " very
well."
" Of course, dear, if you really want to know ;
but I've enjoyed keeping it so far very much. I
know it's selfish and I should have shared it with
you long ago. I have been "
" There are some books I must return to the
city library this afternoon," interrupted David,
ashamed of having spoken as he did. " Do you
wish me to return yours ? "
188 THE MINISTRY OF
" No, dear ; I'm not through with it yet. It's
not due for another week."
" Perhaps I'll get back in time to make one or
two calls. Are there any special places we should
go ? " he asked, as he gathered up his book.
" How would it do to take tea with the
Stewarts' ? We haven't been there for some time,
at least Mary wanted to know yesterday if we
weren't ever going to come and see them any
more."
" Why, we call there twice as much as we do
anywhere else seven times more than at some
places."
In good season David returned from the
library ; and after making one other call, they set
out, at David's own suggestion, for Auntie
Stewart's, as he had come to designate that
household.
Mary welcomed them heartily at the door.
" Just come right in. I'll call mother. So you
did repent of your sins, and decide to call on us
again ? "
" Yes, we thought it was about time for you to
have a call from the minister some people, you
know, need looking after oftener than others."
"'So I've heard. And I know some people who
are so bad they have to go to church twice a Sun-
day it must be awful trying on one's constitution
to have to go to church twice on Sundays, as
preachers have to do."
Mary Stewart always had an answer ready for
DAVID BALDWIN 189
David ; and these two found great fun in parrying
the other's thrusts.
Such original ideas as this young lady had on
so many theological topics ! " The Bible presents
such funny conceptions of heaven," she once said
to David. " Now I don't take any stock in golden
streets and walls of jasper and harps and all such
things."
" Indeed ? "
" No. The heaven that I believe in is far dif-
ferent."
" Different ? "
" Yes ; anybody can see that it was a man and
not a woman who wrote that account in the Bible.
If Mrs. St. John had had hold of the pen I fancy
it would have been very different. Men have so
little imagination on some subjects especially
heaven."
" What do you fancy Mrs. St. John might have
written ? " asked David.
" Well, if she's had to get up all her life, and
get the breakfast for a family as large as ours, I'm
sure she'd have written something about heaven's
being a place where everybody could just lie abed
till breakfast was ready. Now I'm sure that'd be
a very sensible thing to say about heaven, and
much more consoling to us women than golden
streets and jasper walls, especially if we happen
to be the ones who've had to get the breakfasts
every morning since we can remember."
" Listen to that, Mrs. Baldwin ! Mary's trying
190 THE MINISTRY OF
to make a heretic of your husband ! " exclaimed
Cora, who had entered the sitting-room as her sis-
ter was talking.
Miriam and Mrs. Stewart always found much in
common, and had some of the best of visits, the
only hindrance being the attempts of three or four
of the other members of the family who were try-
ing to engage in conversation with Miriam at the
same time, not with disrespect to their mother,
however, but just edging in overflow remarks now
and then. When the boys were all in after sup-
per, the seven young people were well nigh irre-
sistible, but Tom was the acknowledged leader in
wit and repartee, while even the youngest mem-
ber of the family, Elizabeth, was shyly learning to
enter the lists with the rest.
With David and Miriam in their midst conver-
sation simply ran wild, three or four centres going
at full speed all at one time, reminding an observer
of a three or four-ringed performance at a circus.
In the old gentleman, the sense of humor was
highly developed, and few things pleased him
more than to get off a joke on his wife.
" Do you believe in family prayer, Mr. Bald-
win ? " Mr. Stewart asked, having waited two or
three minutes for a suitable opportunity for wedg-
ing his question in. " I would like to know if you
as a minister advise newly married couples to
have family prayer ? "
"Now, Ephraim!" protested his wife. "I
thought you'd forgotten all about that long ago."
DAVID BALDWIN 191
" Forgotten ? Why, Susan, I haven't forgotten
it any more than you have."
The younger members of the family had heard
the story before some of them more than once ;
but attention spoke eloquently of their desire to
enjoy it again. David mistrusted that something
was coming.
"If I am to state my practice, as I have had
only one marriage, I fear, Mr. Stewart, there wasn't
anything said one way or the other on the subjects
of prayers."
" Well," continued the old man almost shaking
with suppressed laughter, " when Susan and I
were married, the minister was very careful to en-
join upon us the solemn duty and great privilege
of family worship. We were both duly impressed.
It so happened that we did not go to keeping
house for a few weeks ; but when we did, the old
minister's exhortation was fresh in our ears.
" It was the first evening in our little home.
* Susan/ said I, ' shall we not follow the good
minister's advice and establish a family altar?'
"'His words have ever been in my mind,
Ephraim, and I am agreed to it,' she replied.
" * Don't you think it would be better for both
of us to pray each making a short prayer, than
for just one of us to pray? 1 I asked knowing
that Susan was very fluent in the prayer-meetings
from which I used to see her home.
" * Why, just as you like, Ephraim just as you
think best.'
192 THE MINISTRY OF
" ' I always enjoy your prayers, Susan/ said I.
"So it was agreed that after reading a few
verses of Scripture, each of us should lead in
prayer. Now, though I was a member of the
church I had never been much of a hand at pray-
ing out loud, and at my father's home we were
not accustomed to having family worship. So it
is not to be wondered at if I didn't get in all the
customary phrases. I just plunged ahead asking
the Lord for what I wanted and thanking him for
his many blessings.
"Well, somewhere in the prayer I wanted to
say something about Susan. As nearly as I
could remember afterward I said : * O Lord, help
Susan to be a better woman.' I don't know just
why I used those words ; guess I simply wanted
the Lord to bless her, that was all. I didn't mean
anything special by it, not in the least.
"But evidently Susan didn't think so. The
first part of her prayer was very eloquent, she
seemed even more animated than usual. But all
of a sudden her tone changed. *O Lord,' said
she, as if in offset to my petition for her, ' O Lord,
keep Ephraim from being such a fool.' '
Even Mrs. Stewart joined in the hearty laugh
which greeted the end of her husband's reminis-
cence.
" Since that time, Mr. Baldwin," continued Mr.
Stewart when he was able to make himself heard,
" since that time Susan and I have each made our
communications to the Lord privately."
DAVID BALDWIN 193
During the moments they were listening to
their father, Mary and Tom and Cora and the
rest, having each thought of some incident too
good to keep, were eager to plunge into the midst
of the competition for a listener. Four to five
were talking at once, some at Miriam and some
at David. Doubtless it is custom that has re-
stricted us to being able to listen to only one
speaker at a time ; for Mrs. Stewart had no
trouble in keeping in touch with the several con-
versations going on about her.
As the callers rose to go Mr. Stewart ap-
proached David.
" That was a grand sermon you gave us Sunday
morning, Mr. Baldwin, a grand sermon. It gave
me an entirely new conception of the book of Job.
But why shouldn't a Hebrew write a drama as
well as a Greek? Why shouldn't a Hebrew
writer use his creative imagination the same as
writers of all other nations have done ? For one I
am proud that the First Church of Tioga has a
pastor who is in sympathy with these modern
views of the Bible."
"Thank you, Mr. Stewart: I am glad if you
found the sermon helpful."
"Indeed I did. The book of Job has never
meant anything to me it was all a jumble what
Bildad, Eliphaz and Zophar said being all on the
same plane with what Job said. But now, when,
as you pointed out, the writer puts what he does
not believe in the mouths of the three friends, and
194 THE MINISTRY OF
has Job get the best of them in the debate, I can
see some meaning to it all. The old ideas of that
day are shown to be inadequate. And those
scenes before the debate begins why I always
was taught to look upon them as actual occur-
rences."
" Of course. So was I."
" I used to get into all sorts of difficulties when
I thought about it, when I read it as actual oc-
currences. But as the work of creative imagina-
tion, a setting or background for the rest of the
drama, it gives one no trouble at all I can under-
stand it. But, Mr. Baldwin, all this requires a dif-
ferent view of the inspiration of the Scriptures
from what we've been accustomed to."
" Yes ; that is the point at which all other ques-
tions converge these new views do require us to
reconstruct our beliefs concerning inspiration, con-
cerning the way the Biblical literature came into
existence."
" I think I am coming to understand your posi-
tion, Mr. Baldwin. To tell the truth," lowering his
voice to a confidential whisper, "for years I've
been growing away from a number of the old
traditional beliefs. A man who reads can't well
help it ! "
" Father ! Are you talking to Mr. Baldwin
yet ? " called Mary from the hall where she was as-
sisting Miriam to put on her wraps. " Father does
enjoy your husband so much," she added to
Miriam.
DAVID BALDWIN 195
" I'm so glad we came. We always have such
a very pleasant time," answered Miriam, as David
at last joined her at the door.
" Come back again, soon," called Mrs. Stewart,
as the young pastor and his wife stepped out into
the cool night air.
David's blues had vanished. His conversation
had its old hopeful ring ; he was his normal self
again, and Miriam was glad. She was early be-
coming an adept in one of the finest of the arts
that of managing a husband without his knowing
it ; for David would surely have resented his wife's
suggestion to take tea with the Stewarts', if he had
known her purpose.
A few minutes' brisk walking brought them to
their own door.
" I haven't shared my secret with you yet, dear,"
said Miriam as they stepped into the house.
" Forgive me, sweetheart ; I was rude in asking
about it in the first place. Don't tell me at all un-
less you wish."
" Oh, I'm happy to share it with you, though I
did enjoy having it all to myself for a while."
" What a mysterious secret it must be 1 "
" Oh, it don't amount to much. Yet I've gotten
a lot of pure enjoyment out of it You'll laugh, I
know you will, when I tell you what it is, what
a silly little secret it is. But I won't care one
bit if you do. David, dear, I've saved nearly a
dollar by by not eating any butter for some
time."
190 THE MINISTRY OF
" By not eating any butter ! You did this to get
some money for the missionary collection?"
" Yes, dear. There didn't seem to be any other
way to get it ; and I didn't mind doing it at all.
Indeed, I've thoroughly enjoyed saving the money
in this way."
" The idea ! Who ever heard of such a thing !
the minister's wife going without butter in order
to send a dollar to the heathen ! Here I've been
spreading my bread just as plentifully as ever,
while you've been going without."
" I had such fun in keeping you in the dark !
More than once I thought you had found me out ;
but you didn't. You were just as good and stupid
about it as you could be."
" But now I'm going to pay you back with in-
terest. You'll see that I'll get even with you," he
laughed.
"Even with me?"
"Yes. I'm bound, you see, to make up for
lost time. It wouldn't do at all for the minister
to let any member of his congregation surpass
him in self-denial ! Until that collection is taken
I shall eat neither butter nor nor mutton chops
nor "
" Why, David, we haven't had mutton chops
since we commenced keeping house," protested
Miriam.
" Well, you see, sweetheart, I must catch up
with you. I must deny myself of more than you
did, since you took advantage of me by getting
DAVID BALDWIN 197
started first I'll not stop by simply going with-
out butter. What I've lost in time must be made
up in quantity. Yes, I shall add mutton chops.
Please don't prepare any mutton chops for me till
this missionary collection is taken."
" Anything else ? " asked Mirian laughing.
" I shall eat no butter, nor mutton chops, nor
green corn on the cob, nor "
" Green corn on the cob, David, in April ? "
" Certainly, my dear," David did not smile, " I
shall deny myself of all green corn on the cob till
after that collection. I shall add also to my list all
pie from now on you'll have to eat your pie
alone, for I solemnly affirm I shall not touch a sin-
gle piece."
" Nor have you tasted a piece of pie in this
house since we came to live in it."
" Miriam, dear, any one can easily see that your
statement has no bearing whatever on the subject
under discussion. I repeat it is my determina-
tion to deny myself of all kinds of pie, mince pie,
apple pie, lemon pie, pumpkin pie, peach pie and
pie by whatever name it may be known. Now
please do not try to dissuade me, dear, from mak-
ing this sacrifice. I am determined to do it.
Nothing shall stop me. I must get even with you
in some way. Tea and coffee shall also be denied ;
white bread, hot rolls, doughnuts, sausage, sauer-
kraut, lobsters, venison, fried potatoes, new peas
and and well, I think that will do. Please re-
member the list and in preparing any of these
198 THE MINISTRY OF
things, cook only what you may want for yourself.
I shall religiously deny myself of them all."
" What an immense sum we'll have by a week
from Sunday ! " laughed Miriam.
When the treasurer was looking over the en-
velopes, transferring to his church account book
the amounts each family had given, he paused a
moment when he came to the pastor's envelope,
wondering not so much at the smallness of the
sum as why it had been made one dollar and
twenty-three cents rather than a dollar and a
quarter.
" Doubtless the pastor forgot to put in the other
two cents," said he to his wife.
" But, Jacob, it reads $1.23 on the outside of the
envelope," said Mrs. Long. "And the '3' is
made very plainly, too."
"That's so! I wonder what could be the
reason? "
" Why, Jacob, it must be that they give a cer-
tain per cent, of his salary to foreign missions, and
it figured out just that amount."
" I guess you're right, Josephine. I guess
you're right," replied the deacon writing the
figures down in his ledger. " I don't see how you
can account for it in any other way." After care-
fully blotting the name and the figures, Deacon
Long turned back and compared this amount
with what the previous pastor had contributed for
foreign missions the last year he was with them.
" Brother Baldwin don't seem to be nearly so
DAVID BALDWIN 199
much interested in missions as our previous pas-
tor was," he observed.
"It's no more than you can expect, Jacob, from
the kind of sermons he's preaching."
"I've been waiting to hear him preach a sermon
on missions, but he never has yet."
" Perhaps he don't believe that the heathen are
all doomed to suffer in the bottomless pit. Can it
be possible, Jacob, that our church has a pastor
who believes that there is salvation out of Christ
that the heathen are not doomed to eternal
punishment, unless snatched as brands from the
fire?"
" Brother Brand and I are both waiting to hear
what he'll say on this subject. Brand suggests
that we have some of the ladies request him to
preach a sermon or two on missions. I guess
that'll work all right. We're quietly getting his
beliefs on as many subjects as we can. I've got a
number of his unsound statements already in my
note-book, but Brand says we must keep still till
we get considerable more."
" It's a pity Mr. Baldwin is so unorthodox !
Otherwise he's a real nice man. Sister Hunter
was telling me the other day how much she en-
joys the pastor's calls. She says that no pastor
we've had since she has been blind has been
more attentive in calling on her. She said that
Mr. Baldwin's conversations with her were so help-
ful and his prayers helped her so much. I can't
understand, Jacob, how it is that a pastor who
200 THE MINISTRY OF
holds such unorthodox beliefs as Mr. Baldwin
surely does, can be so good a man ? "
" But natural goodness, Josephine, don't count.
Good works will never save any man. Neither
Brand nor I have any fault to find with the pastor's
goodness. It's his beliefs that are the important
thing. We want a pastor to preach sound doc-
trine. What's the use of having a denomination
unless we're going to have sound doctrine
preached in it, I'd like to know ? And Brand
thinks just as I do about it."
" Of course, that's so. It's the doctrine that's
the important thing."
"Certainly, Josephine."
The deacon and his wife worked on transcrib-
ing the accounts to the church ledger, finding a
peculiar joy in what they were doing ; for was
not looking after the collection for the heathen a
kind of church work especially pleasing to the
Lord ? They were sure it was, and their joy in it
was in exact ratio to the strength of their assur-
ance.
These two devout souls were unconsciously
playing a pathetic, a tragic part in one of the
great dramas of life, a drama which in varying
degrees of intensity has continued to be reenacted
since the earliest memory of the race. It reached
its climax once with Socrates as the central actor;
at other times and in other places it has come to a
climax with such central figures as Isaiah, Paul,
Savonarola. In a way most preeminent it reached
DAVID BALDWIN 201
a climax with the Christ. This perpetually react-
ing drama is the action and reaction between the
leaven of new ideas and the lump of human con-
servatism.
It is one and the same spirit which drank the
hemlock, suffered on the rack, endured the fagots,
or died on the cross. It is one and the same spirit
which brewed the hemlock, constructed the rack,
piled the fagots, erected the cross. Not that these
things were done necessarily by bad men far
from it. In perhaps every instance they believed
they were serving their day and generation to the
best of their ability. Such is the tragedy, such is
the pathos in the problem of the lump and the
leaven 1
XIV
IT was one of those perfect days in the latter
part of August, made especially for people
who wish to spend the time out of doors lying
under the trees, drinking in that inspiration which
comes from first hand contact with the chirp of
birds, with the soft music of running water, with
the lapping of the waves, with the varied sounds
of insect activity, with the open sky peeping down
through the trees ; a day neither too warm nor too
cool, with a few clouds but without the first sug-
gestion of rain. Such was the day only better
on which came the first anniversary of David
and Miriam's marriage.
With a basket packed full of lunch, leaving only
room enough for a couple of magazines and a
book to be tucked in at the side, these two mar-
ried lovers mounted their wheels about ten-thirty
in the forenoon and rode out of town, up past the
university grounds, and soon came to the drive
around the lake. This driveway was smooth and
well kept. Now the cyclists came to a sharp turn
and a bit of a hill which was easily ridden without
dismounting ; they passed through a cluster of pine,
and down a gentle slope along which the wheels
sped like things endowed with life. Farther on
the drive led for an eighth of a mile over the neck
202
DAVID BALDWIN 203
of a marsh, with tall reeds and marsh hay on either
side.
Emerging from the marsh, they ascended a
gradual slope, and another half of a mile brought
them to the foot of a hill too steep and too long to
ride ; dismounting, they walked to the top, which
was some distance from the lake. A fringe of
trees entirely shut the lake from view. Mounting
their wheels again the cyclists coasted along a
delightful declivity not too steep, yet with down
grade sufficient to carry them swiftly along past
the wild cherry trees and the old rail fence, gath-
ering momentum which would carry them far up
the approaching ascent.
The top of this ascent being gained, the drive
turned abruptly to the right ; they rode on a short
distance, when, suddenly, the thin fringe of trees
gave way and the lake lay before them.
" Isn't it grand ! " Miriam exclaimed.
Two or three miles of water lay between them
and the city on the other side, with its church
spires and tall university buildings looming up in
contrast to the less pretentious structures. Viewed
across the water the scene was most beautiful.
" Yes," answered David, " the suddenness with
which the view of the lake breaks upon one, must
have something to do with it."
Slowly they rode along this open space, and
after a few minutes came into another bit of wood-
land, the road winding this way and that, up hill
and down, now wholly shaded by trees arching
204: THE MINISTRY OF
from either side, now with the blue of the sky
peeping down through the overhanging branches,
until it passed over a rustic bridge, their proposed
destination.
The approach to this rustic bridge is one of the
most charming bits of scenery to be found in many
a day's travel. It breaks upon you as a surprise
when you come to it for the first time, and addi-
tional visits only add to your first impression. As
you ride out of a stretch of quite dense woods the
drive makes a graceful curve and brings you at
once to an opening in the foliage, caused by a deep
ravine, over which this rustic bridge several yards
in length joins bank to bank. At the farther end
of the bridge the driveway is immediately lost to
view owing to a decided bend to the right, giving
to the scene, in an unusual degree, the effect of
completeness joined with mystery.
Dismounting on this bridge, David and Miriam,
after enjoying the view for a few minutes, retraced
their way to the side of the ravine they had
just approached, and turned off into the trees.
The shore of the lake was a few rods down the
slope.
A little more than half way from the drive to the
lake was the spot they were seeking. Here was
shade or sunshine as one wished, with soft velvety
carpet to lie upon ; to the left was the ravine with
its low music of running water keeping time to the
swish of the waves a little distance below. On all
sides the woods were untouched, while through
DAVID BALDWIN 205
the trees came glimpses of the lake and of the city
beyond.
The hour before luncheon passed rapidly as
Miriam read aloud the closing chapters of " The
Reign of Law," by one of their favorite authors.
"I do not like the way it closes," said David.
"It is a masterful treatment of a great problem ;
but to my mind the story in its closing is not true
to the situation."
" You mean that the young man shouldn't have
lost his religion?"
" Certainly. Our author seems to indicate that
the natural transition, in the instance he has por-
trayed so well up to a certain point, is from a be-
lief in a personal Deity to a belief in the reign of
Law. I do not think his conclusion is true to the
situation."
" Doubtless it is true in the experience of many
a student this transition indicated by the author."
" Yes, doubtless ; and it might have been true
in my case had it not been for one of my professors.
This makes me all the more confident that the
struggle ought not to close as the author ends it.
I have half a mind to write a book and set forth
the matter as I know it from experience."
"Why don't you?"
" Why don't I write a book ? " David laughed
merrily as he repeated the question. "Why
why, perhaps I may some day who knows?
There are enough things connected with my pas-
torate already to make an interesting book, if only
206 THE MINISTRY OF
I could get them in shape. Think of being called
to a church with the stipulation that I must come
as a married man ! "
" But, David, you wouldn't put things that have
actually happened in your book, would you ? "
" Why not ? I've read of many writers doing
it. The best fiction doubtless has a basis of fact
in it"
" I wonder how an author prepares to write a
work of fiction? Does he know all about the
story before he begins, or does he work it out as
he goes along ? "
" Oh, I suppose some do one way and some
another. In twenty-five years from now I may
be able to tell you more about it"
Both laughed.
" At the present moment, however," continued
David, " I prefer to discuss lunch ; my ! it's al-
most one o'clock."
While they were eating, a little chipmunk came
out of his hole near by, and after watching them
a moment with a sort of nervous curiosity, disap-
peared and soon came to the surface again ac-
companied by its mate. The two of them, after
making sundry observations, began to draw a little
closer to the strangers, but at the least sudden
move on their part, the little creatures would
scamper back into their hole. On finding they
were not pursued, they would soon reappear.
David threw them some crumbs ; for which the
chipmunks seemed to say " Thank you " as they
DAVID BALDWIN 207
packed these dainty morsels away in their capa-
cious cheeks.
" I suppose these chipmunks have their own
problems to meet and solve, just like human
beings have theirs."
" Without doubt they do in their own way,"
answered Miriam.
" I hope they are able to solve their problems
better than some of us do ours," continued David.
" You remember, Miriam, how confident I was
just a year ago that we could save, during our
first year, two hundred dollars to pay off that
school debt ? Well, here we are at the end of the
year without a single cent ahead."
" But, dear, never mind that. We've done the
very best we could. There's no hurry. We've
had so many necessary things to buy this year.
But I hope that during the coming year we may
be able to reduce my school indebtedness some
say fifty or a hundred dollars."
" I hope we may, sweetheart ; but if we carry
out certain plans we have in mind, it will crowd us
pretty close to save very much."
" You mean our plans concerning a baby ? "
"Yes."
" But the necessary expense need not be very
much, dear ; and I do hope we shall not have to
wait much longer. A home is incomplete without
children."
" As to the expense, I suppose one can never tell
what it will amount to."
208 THE MINISTRY OF
" No, I had in mind the preparations. We need
not get anything expensive. A very simple outfit
would do. And as for the other expenses, I am so
well and strong I'm sure the expense wouldn't
be so very much. Of course, it's best that we've
waited this long; but now we're getting several
of our things paid for, and and, David, you can
never know how my heart hungers for a little baby
all our very own."
"But we must consider the matter very care-
fully, sweetheart. To my mind it is a crime to
summon a young life into this world without
planning for its needs. The little folks have noth-
ing to say in the matter. I sometimes wish they
had. How many children out of every hundred
would respond if they had their say in deciding
whether they would come ? Think of the kind of
welcome many of them get 1 "
"But don't you think, dear, that more people
are coming every year to think and plan over
these matters? Parenthood is the most sacred
function of life. It seems to me almost incredible
that any one could incur its responsibilities
thoughtlessly."
" Yes, I think more people are giving to parent-
hood the serious thought it deserves ; but at the
same time there are any number of intelligent peo-
ple who plan as to times and seasons and proper
conditions for the propagation of horses and cattle
and dogs, and yet give no thought to these things
when their own kind is concerned."
DAVID BALDWIN 209
" They have never been awakened to the im-
portance of such planning," said Miriam. " Most
people seem to take the coming of children as a
matter wholly beyond their control. How my
heart aches for women who have motherhood
thrust upon them time after time without having
any choice in the matter at all."
"Yes. And what a heritage such children come
into. The mother's thought and state of mind
have such an influence in forming the disposition
and temperament of the child."
" As many a mother has learned when it was
too late. This must be one of the saddest experi-
ences of life."
" How ? " asked David.
" Why, for a mother to realize that certain un-
desirable traits in the disposition of her child were
due to her own state of mind when she held the
young life near her heart. I know of one or two
cases like that. What wouldn't a mother give to
be able to undo what is then too late to change ? "
" But why didn't some one tell them their own
mothers before they had incurred parenthood ?
Here is something I cannot understand. Parents
let their sons and daughters grow up in ignorance
of many things they should know, and for the lack
of such knowledge irreparable blunders and even
crimes are committed, which would have been
avoided if parents had done their duty by their
children."
"I cannot understand it either," said Miriam, as
210 THE MINISTRY OF
she finished packing away the remains of their
lunch. " Parents seem to enter into a conspiracy
to keep their children from knowing many things
concerning their own bodies which they ought to
know."
" Yes ; a false modesty or a desire to keep chil-
dren from knowing too much of the mysteries of
life, or an utter indifference is at the bottom of it
all. I've been thinking, Miriam, how would it
do for me to give a series of Sunday evening talks
on some of these topics to give them in the place
of the evening sermon ? "
" That would be fine 1 I hope you will do it,
David."
" Well, I've had it in mind as a possibility for
several weeks. There's need enough of some one
undertaking it, and I have half a mind to try."
During the weeks following this conversation
David could not get away from the conviction
that he should give his proposed series of Sunday
evening talks. Gathering a few books about him
he set to work. The task was no easy one, but he
brought to it a high and holy motive which sus-
tained him more than once when he was about to
give the whole matter up, owing to the difficulty
he had in developing his subjects in a manner
suitable for public presentation.
From September to January he gave odd mo-
ments to this work, all the time his conviction
growing stronger that he was engaged in a work
DAVID BALDWIN 211
that should be done. On the Sunday morning
after New Year's, David announced from the pul-
pit his intention of beginning that evening a series
of sermon-lectures on the general topic of " Getting
Acquainted with Ourselves."
" For some time," he went on, " I have been im-
pressed with the fact that on some of the most
vital questions of life there is little or nothing said
in the form of public instruction ; and in private
there is, I fear, only a very little more attention
given to these same vital considerations.
" It is not surprising, therefore," he continued,
as the auditorium grew breathlessly still, "it is
not surprising, in view of the lack of information
given to young people on some topics concerning
which they ought not to remain in ignorance, that
the period of youth is filled with needless anxieties
and questionings and not infrequently with mis-
steps which no amount of fervent repentance can
retrace."
The silence of the church was oppressive as the
pastor paused to take a deep breath before con-
tinuing. His face was kindled with a terrible
earnestness.
" Only last week," said he, speaking in a low
voice but which could be heard in all parts of the
room, " I was talking with a young man, one of
the students in the university, who told me with
tears in his eyes that he would gladly give the
next ten years of his life, if he could but go back
to the age of twelve and live his life over again.
212 THE MINISTRY OF
Till my talk with him, I was not absolutely certain
that I could bring myself to deliver the addresses
on which I had been studying for some time. But
after that conversation I determined to wait no
longer ; for I am convinced that the case of the
young man to whom I have alluded is no solitary
instance : all about us are young men who, through
lack of suitable instruction and guidance, have
been led into a bondage whose tyranny is equaled
only by its pernicious effects. Oh, for some one
to guide the course of life as the mysterious
powers of sex are awakening !
" Not only with boys is there, the need of in-
struction and guidance as they pass into a con-
sciousness of their larger selves; the need is
equally imperative in the case of the other half of
the human family. What anxieties, what mis-
takes, what missteps could have been avoided, if
mothers had only shared with their daughters
such knowledge as they possess !
"If children are not instructed chastely and
lovingly as to the nature and use of the functions
of sex, they will get a vulgar knowledge of these
things from other children at school or on the
street. And few things can be more pernicious to
a child than a perverted idea of the meaning of
sex. Ideas control action, and the safest way to
keep a child from having a wrong idea or con-
ception is to give him the conception you would
like for him to hold. My friends, ignorance is a
dangerous safeguard to virtue.
DAVID BALDWIN 213
"As one called and set apart to guide and in-
struct and inspire to right ways of thinking and
doing, I feel strongly moved toward doing what-
ever I may be able to arouse the members of this
congregation to an adequate appreciation of the
problems lying so near the heart of every home.
Therefore," he concluded, "instead of the usual
evening service which some of you feel called
upon to support by your presence through, I doubt
not, a sense of duty, we shall have a service in
which I shall attempt to discuss some phase of
the problem of sex. For around this problem
cluster nearly all the other great and vital problems
of life."
When David Baldwin entered his pulpit that
evening he found a crowded house awaiting him,
a circumstance very unusual, as Tioga was pre-
eminently a place of morning audiences.
" In no language is there a word filled fuller of
mystery than is the word life" began the preacher
as every face turned toward his. " Life we talk
of it as if we knew what it was, what it is, yet we
are unable to define it ; perhaps we are as far away
from an adequate definition of life to-day as were
the ancients before us. Like electricity, we may
know considerable about it, but the reality itself
eludes our search.
" In plant, in animal, in man we recognize a dif-
ference when there is life and when life is gone ;
but just what that difference is we cannot tell.
214: THE MINISTRY OF
Those who have given the subject prolonged at-
tention and study, and who are thus qualified to
speak with authority, tell us that wherever found,
whether in animal or plant or man, life is essen-
tially the same, differing in quality and quantity,
yet retaining so much in common, we may say
that all life is related ; that the life of the universe
is essentially one thing plants, animals and the
human race being but different embodiments, dif-
ferent manifestations of this life.
" There are very good reasons," continued the
speaker, " reasons which I cannot go into now, as
it would take me too far afield from my purpose,
but which are open to any one wishing to investi-
gate the subject there are very good reasons for
believing that life started on this planet in its
lowest forms and that through the ages there has
been a gradual ascent, bringing into existence the
whole range of plant and animal families, and cul-
minating in the form known as the human race.
No more fascinating story exists than the broken
record of the rise of life from lower to higher
forms. In this ascent many of the steps are now
lost to our view, but enough do exist to indicate
more or less clearly the path along which the pro-
cession marched.
" Of all the many mysterious things connected
with life, there is perhaps none more profoundly
mysterious than its transmission ; whether it be in
plants or animals or man, the passing on of life
from one generation to the next, is wholly beyond
DAVID BALDWIN 215
our comprehension. Like other vital processes,
this also cannot be explained : it can only be de-
scribed. And all life if left to its natural course
tends to perpetuate itself.
" In some of the lower animal forms life is per-
petuated by segmentation the parent simply
dividing itself into various segments or offspring.
Some plants are endowed with the same property :
those that can be propagated by cutting off a piece
of the parent plant. Leaving out of consideration
one or two other methods, the one most commonly
brought to our notice is the reproduction of life
through the seed or the egg. Now it is a matter
of observation and a fact taught in every school
botany, that in plants which transmit their life
through seeds there must be a mingling of pollen
in the blossom or there will be no seed. What
does this mean ? It means that here we have the
beginnings of sex : that in the blossoms of plants
there are both the male and the female elements
and that these two elements must mingle if there
is to be fruit or seed."
The preacher thus led his audience away from
any morbid or unchaste curiosity which may have
impelled certain persons to desire to hear what he
had to say. He sought to create the scientific at-
titude or atmosphere, and in a fair measure he ac-
complished his purpose. The rest of the half hour
was given to setting forth the different methods by
which life in the animal kingdom is passed on
from parent to offspring, dwelling at length on the
216 THE MINISTRY OF
preparation sometimes made by insects for off-
spring they were destined never to see, as their
own death came before their eggs were hatched.
" Next Sunday evening," said David Baldwin in
concluding his discourse, " I shall speak further on
this same topic The transmission of life with
especial reference to some facts concerning the
possibilities of pre-natal culture, facts which all
should carefully ponder who expect to invite the
responsibilities of parenthood. "
After the dismissal of the audience, Dr. Ell wood,
head of the biological department of the univer-
sity, waited to greet Baldwin.
" I wish to thank you, Mr. Baldwin," said he,
shaking the preacher's hand warmly, " for the dis-
course this evening, and more especially for what
is promised to follow. Often, very often indeed, I
have wished to do what you are now undertak-
ing ; but the right opportunity in my case never
seemed to appear. I most heartily approve of
your purpose, and in my judgment you are doing
a valuable service to the community."
" Thank you, Dr. Ell wood ; your approval is
worth very much to me. I am aware that I am
laying myself open to all kinds of criticism."
" Quite possible," replied Dr. Ellwood. " Who-
ever has dared to do any new or neglected duty
has had plenty of people to carp at him. But
criticism should not deter you from going on."
Mr. Strong interrupted them.
"That was fine, Dominie," said he, using a term
DAVID BALDWIN 217
of address with which he usually accosted Mr.
Baldwin. " It was worth any ten evening sermons
we've had in a long time. Let the good work go
on I' 1
" I was so interested ! " added Mrs. Strong,
touching her pastor on the arm. " Why shouldn't
a pastor discuss these topics ? Do they not lie at
the centre of things ? I can't tell how many times
I've come to church of a Sunday evening just to
help sustain the service, as you said. But now I
shall come because I want inspiration and guidance
to aid me in doing a parent's duty to my chil-
dren."
"Thank you very much. I only hope that
others will feel in sympathy with what I'm trying
to do."
" You mean the Triumvirate ? "
"Yes."
"Of course there will be objections in that
quarter : there always are objections from some,
whenever anything new appears. But you mustn't
mind. The Master had just such men to contend
with, didn't he?",
In another part of the room two of the " trium-
virs " Deacon Long and Mr. Brand were stand-
ing together. Mr. Driver rarely attended church
of an evening.
"Well, what did you think of it?" asked the
deacon, confidentially.
" A fine audience," replied the other, keeping
the deacon in suspense.
218 DAVID BALDWIN
" But his discourse ? "
"Well, if that's what he calls preaching the
gospel, I would like to hear what the other thing
would be."
" That's what I thought that's what I thought,
Brother Brand. Did you detect anything espe-
cially unsound in his discourse ? "
The reply was lost as they passed out into the
street.
XV
ON the following Tuesday afternoon as
David Baldwin was leaving the Uni-
versity library, he met Dr. Ell wood, and
the two men walked up the avenue together.
"I've been thinking, Mr. Baldwin, of transfer-
ring my membership to your church," said Dr.
Ellwood, during the conversation, as they walked
briskly along, facing a stiff breeze from the lake.
" Indeed ? I am glad to hear it. You and Mrs.
Ellwood will be most heartily welcome. Our
church has altogether too few of the university
families."
"Yes, too few; but it's not their fault. When
we came here five years ago I attended the First
Church several Sundays ; both Mrs. Ellwood and
myself belonged to your denomination. But we
soon stopped going ; we found nothing there for a
modern man instead, the emphasis, the point of
view, the conceptions of life and duty, the attitude
toward the Bible, were all of a century ago. I
hold that it's a man's duty to go to church where
he can get something that feeds him ; so after a
time we became members of Dr. Crockett's church.
Here we have found a very congenial church home ;
but now though denominationalism means very
little to me I would like to have some little part,
219
220 THE MINISTRY OF
Mr. Baldwin, in helping on what you are under-
taking to do here in Tioga."
" Thank you, Dr. Ellwood."
" Yours, I fancy, is not the easiest pastorate in
the world. Of course, nearly everybody knows
that the First Church here is run practically by
two or three men. Some of us are watching with
interest to see how far they will permit the new
leaven to do its work. Now, about transferring
our membership : if you will step into the house a
moment, I will hand you our letters; I called for
them at our last midweek service."
Dr. Ell wood's study was generously filled with
books on two sides of the room, the cases reach-
ing almost to the ceiling.
" Just make yourself at home a moment or two.
I find that I have left the envelope containing those
letters in the pocket of another coat. Excuse me,
and I will get it"
David Baldwin seated himself near the open
grate ; but as his eyes wandered over the titles of
the volumes in the case, at his left, he arose, his
interest growing as he read shelf after shelf.
"I see that you are interested in comparative
religion," said he, as Dr. Ellwood returned to the
room. " I haven't seen so complete a collection
of books on Comparative Religion since I left the
University."
"Yes, the subject interests me. Several years
ago I devoured everything I could find along that
line."
DAVID BALDWIN 221
"Indeed?"
" I was searching for light. It was becoming
impossible for me to hold the religious conceptions
upon which I had been brought up. The study of
those works enabled me to find myself, to under-
stand that religion is one thing "
" A life."
" and our beliefs, quite another."
"How well I remember the day when that dif-
ference was made clear to me."
"I can believe it. In my case it dawned
gradually ; but the relief was none the less great.
Here are our church letters, Mr. Baldwin."
" Thank you. We will act on them this week.
Next Sunday is our regular time for communion
and you can receive the hand of fellowship then.
I want you to feel at home among us at once."
As David walked on home he felt that the tide
was turning in his favor. The Ellwoods were
considered among the most cultured families of
the city. Accordingly, it was with no small ela-
tion that he presented their letters at the close of
the midweek service on the following Thursday
evening.
" I have here," said he, " the church letters of
Dr. and Mrs. Ellwood, who desire to become
members with us."
That Dr. Ellwood had found the preaching in
Dr. Crockett's church more to his liking, though
he was denominationally allied to the First Church,
was generally known ; but for several Sundays
222 THE MINISTRY OF
he had been one of Baldwin's most attentive
hearers.
A silence settled over the little company as the
pastor made his announcement.
"What is your pleasure ?" he asked, looking
over the audience. Any one could see that he
was pleased to be able to present these names for
membership.
At once Deacon Long rose to his feet.
" Before a motion is made," said he, "I wish to
ask a question."
"Very well."
"Are these letters of Dr. and Mrs. Ellwood
granted by a sister church of our denomination, in
good and regular standing?" All eyes were
riveted on the deacon whose attitude was that of
a prosecuting attorney questioning a criminal.
" No," answered the pastor. " Dr. and Mrs.
Ellwood come to us with letters granted by Dr.
Crockett's churoh of this city."
The deacon's eyes snapped as he answered
savagely :
" Then we cannot act upon them. Churches of
our denomination receive letters only from sister
churches in good and regular standing in the
denomination."
Mr. Strong was instantly on his feet.
" But I see no reason, Brother Pastor, why the
First Church should not receive letters from other
churches."
"That's what I say!" exclaimed Mrs. Terry,
DAVID BALDWIN 223
without rising. " To think of our hesitating to re-
ceive Dr. and Mrs. Ellwood 1 "
" It's unchristian ! " exclaimed Mrs. Strong.
"Brother Pastor," it was Mr. Brand who had
risen and was addressing the chair, "as every
member of our denomination ought to know, it is
a settled practice with us to receive letters only
from churches of like faith and order. To deviate
from this practice would result in all sorts of irreg-
ularities. We believe in certain definite things.
Now, if we accept letters from other denomina-
tions, we thereby acknowledge the validity of their
creeds, and from that moment we cease to be a
regular denominational church."
" Brother Chairman," said Mrs. Wood, as she
rose with quiet dignity and waited an instant for
the pastor's recognition, "I am in favor of re-
ceiving these letters. Dr. and Mrs. Ellwood are
well known to each of us. Their excellent Chris-
tian character is beyond question. Would they be
any better if they came to us with letters from a
church of our own denomination ? I for one care
not what our past usage has been. If it is not
broad and Christlike, let's change it. By all
means let us not place any obstacle in the way of
the Ellwoods becoming members with us ! "
Immediately Deacon Long rose to reply.
" It's not a matter of placing obstacles in the
way of any one who wishes to join our church ; it's
not a matter which pertains to Dr. and Mrs. Ell-
wood's Christian character. The point is: as a
224 THE MINISTRY OF
regular church of our denomination we cannot ac-
cept letters from churches of other faith and practice.
Further, article 3, section 20, of our by-laws reads
as follows : * No change in the policy or established
custom of this church shall be made by any officer
or committee, or by any action in any mid-week
service.' This means that the policy of this
church can be changed only by vote at the annual
business meeting."
" Are we to understand," asked the pastor try-
ing to speak calmly, " that this section of the by-
laws is meant to compel us to walk in the exact
steps of our predecessors ? that because they did
things in a certain way, we must do the same ? "
" It means," replied Deacon Long with more
warmth than was absolutely becoming in a deacon
when speaking to his pastor, " it means that this
church is intended to remain true to the practices
of the denomination however much some may de-
sire to the contrary."
" Brethren," said the pastor, his calm, deliberate
manner little indicating the indignation he was
holding in check, "at the next annual business
meeting of this church I shall propose to drop this
section from our by-laws. It's suicidal ! But at
present I suppose there is nothing to do but abide
by it. The meeting is adjourned."
Several of the members at once gathered about
the pastor.
"Such a shame!" cried Mrs. Strong. "It's
the most unchristian thing these men have
DAVID BALDWIN 225
done in a long time. What will the Ell woods
think ?"
"But what I cannot understand is why that
section has been permitted to remain in the by-laws
so long nearly forty years, I'm told," said Bald-
win to those near him.
" Just bring the subject up at the next annual
meeting and you will know more about it," said
Mrs. Terry.
" Yes, that section is one of his pets."
"Whose?"
" Mr. Driver's."
" I see," said Baldwin.
While this conversation was going on near
the pastor, Mrs. Long, Mrs. Brand, Mrs. Good-
win, and Mrs. North held themselves stiffly aloof.
"If it wasn't for my husband and Brother
Brand," Mrs. Long was saying to Mrs. North,
" I can't imagine what would become of this
church ! "
" They certainly do have their hands full. Mr.
Baldwin don't seem to know exactly what belongs
to our denominational usage."
" That's because he's not a true member of the
denomination ! " exclaimed Mrs. Brand who had
overheard the remark. " How can a man be a
member of the denomination and hold such beliefs
as he does ? My husband you know he used to
be a pastor years ago before his throat gave out
my husband says that Mr. Baldwin is terribly
unsound in his doctrine. Such a pity, isn't it? "
226 DAVID BALDWIN
" It is a pity. His sermons would be so helpful
if it wasn't for that."
" Yes. My husband says that so many of the
young ministers are unsound in their doctrine,
nowadays. I wonder what the church is coming
to?"
" What do you suppose is the matter ? " asked
Mrs. North, as they stepped into the vestibule,
stopping a moment to adjust their wraps before
facing the outside zero atmosphere.
" Why, my husband says it's all due to what's
called the * new theology.' But just what that is I
can't make out. But it must be something dread-
ful to attack religion in that way.' 1
"Yes, it must be something very dreadful.
There's my car. Good -night."
" Good-night," responded Mrs. Brand.
XVI
MRS. HARRINGTON was born a diplo-
mat : she had a natural aptitude for
taking advantage of circumstances.
Further, this aptitude had been so persistently cul-
tivated during her 'little more than twoscore of
years that it had developed into a passion this
taking advantage of circumstances which led her
to do many things of which she otherwise would
never have thought. So thoroughly did this pas-
sion become a dominating factor in her life that it
was absolutely painful to her to let any opportunity
for exercising her skill go unused. When this is
understood it will be easy to comprehend that
Mrs. Harrington was not infrequently impelled to
turn circumstances to her own account, even when
it required a little duplicity to effect the desired
end.
So long had she continued using phrases and
expressions she did not really mean, the habit had
become not only second but first nature to her.
It must be confessed, however, that Mrs. Harring-
ton was not very unlike many other people in this
respect. The principal difference is, perhaps, one
of degree. Mrs. Harrington's mastery of the
diplomatic art made her a charming person to
meet in casual conversation, and her friends she
had her full share soon learned to value her word
227
228 THE MINISTRY OF
for just about what it was worth ; and in this way
her many good qualities were not neutralized by
her ruling passion.
Mrs. Harrington was an ardent admirer of her
pastor, the Reverend David Baldwin, as she always
introduced him to her friends. Rarely did she
leave the morning service without meeting him
long enough to express her admiration of his
"beautiful and eloquent sermon."
In making his calls, the pastor had met her a
few times in her own home ; but he had never
found it convenient to stay to dinner, as she had
more than once pressed him to do, owing to some
other demands on his time.
Not long after the holidays, in making his round
of calls in that part of the city, David Baldwin
called at the Harrington home. As usual, Mrs.
Baldwin accompanied him.
Mrs. Harrington herself answered their ring.
" Come right in. I saw you coming up the
walk and didn't wait for Nora to admit you. How
glad I am to see you ! Seems an age since you
were here last. Mrs. Baldwin, what a fine color
you have. No, take this chair ; you will find it
more comfortable."
" We scarcely had time to stop, but we thought
we would run in for a few minutes."
"Indeed! I should have felt slighted if you
hadn't. It's early yet."
" But Mr. Baldwin has to attend a committee
meeting at an unusually early hour this evening."
DAVID BALDWIN 229
" Miss Adams, whose mother is ill, as you know,
wished the hour at a quarter before seven. This
cuts the afternoon short," added the minister.
"That's too bad. Excuse me just a moment
while I speak to Nora."
Mrs. Harrington withdrew to the kitchen.
" Don't be in any hurry with the dinner, Nora.
The minister and his wife are here. I shall ask
them to stay, of course ; but I'm quite certain that
they "
" I was just goin' to ask what extra preparations
I should make."
" Oh, make none at all."
"Why "
" Of course, Nora, I shall have to ask them to
stay to dinner, but they'll not stay. He has to at-
tend an early committee meeting. It's fortunate,
too, with only those odds and ends in the pantry,
left from yesterday. So make no changes in our
picked up dinner."
On her return to the parlor Mrs. Harrington
found Mrs. Baldwin alone, examining some new
music which lay open on the piano.
" Lillian has just carried Mr. Baldwin off to the
library."
" Oh, to show him her new set of Scott. Her
grandmother gave it to her as a birthday present."
" Lillian is fond of reading ? "
"Very. She divides her time between books
and music."
" This piece of music interests me especially : I
230 THE MINISTRY OF
notice it is composed by an old friend in the
East."
" Cogswell ? Are you acquainted with Homer
Emerson Cogswell? Tell me about him. His
music has recently become so very popular. He
is quite the rage, you know."
Mrs. Baldwin's narrative consumed several
minutes.
" I am so glad to meet some one who knows
him personally ; it's almost like meeting the man
himself knowing him by proxy, as it were."
" His success, however, is not without quali-
fication."
"Indeed! How is that?"
" You see his earlier compositions were but in-
differently received ; it was not until he set to mu-
sic some of the poems of this author that he came
into prominence. The words have a charm of
their own. Taken together, the effect of the com-
position is highly pleasing."
" You are acquainted with the writer of the
words also ? "
" Oh, yes ; while in Vassar I knew her well.
She was our president's wife ; I noticed the other
day a flattering review of a volume of verse she
has recently published."
" What a privilege to meet such celebrities.
That's part*of the advantage of a college course,
isn't it ? Let me see, the name of the president
at Vassar is "
" Smith."
DAVID BALDWIN 231
" Oh, yes ; I should have remembered. I can-
not tell you, Mrs. Baldwin, how delighted I am to
hear of these people. Here in Minnesota we are
a little removed from literary and musical genius.
You and Mr. Baldwin must stay to dinner with
us : Mr. Harrington is absent from the city and
will not be back till a little after six, but we need
not wait for him."
" Thank you, Mrs. Harrington ; it's kind of you
to want us to stay. But it's impossible this even-
ing. Mr. Baldwin desires to meet with that com-
mittee ; and we must hurry back. We have our
own dinner, you know, at one, and take only a
light lunch at six."
" But you have never eaten with us yet," per-
sisted Mrs. Harrington, more and more certain of
her ground ; " and I am beginning to feel just the
least bit jealous of some of the members of the
church with whom you have "
" Indeed ! Mrs. Harrington, we have called
here quite frequently ; more often, in fact, than on
many of the church families."
" None too often, and far from often enough to
suit me; but you and Mr. Baldwin have never
taken lunch or dinner with me yet. I always like
to have my pastor feel at home at our house, to
just drop in any time and take a meal with us."
" We will surely do so soon, Mrs. Harrington ;
and I regret that it is impossible for us to stay
now."
" Yes ; Lillian would be so pleased to hear you
232 THE MINISTRY OF
relate whatever you could recall concerning the
authors of her favorite music. Shall I not speak
to Mr. Baldwin ? Do you not think I could per-
suade him to stay ? "
"If it wasn't for that committee meeting; he
has promised to meet a committee from the
Young People's Society and assist them in outlin-
ing some new work for the rest of the winter. I
know he considers the meeting very important
and "
" Well, I am so disappointed. I had hoped that
you could stay this time ; but of course a pastor's
time is not his own. We are very proud of our
pastor, Mrs. Baldwin. How the evening audiences
have increased I Why, last Sunday evening the
church was filled to overflowing they had to
open the lecture room a thing they haven't had
to do before since the day of its dedication !
Why, Lillian, where have you left Mr. Baldwin?"
looking up at her daughter who was entering the
room alone.
" He is at the 'phone, mamma. He thinks my
set of Scott is just splendid ! "
"Mrs. Adams is worse," said the minister re-
turning to the parlor. " Her daughter has been
trying to reach me for the last half hour. She
tells me that it will be impossible for her to meet
with the committee and asks to have the meeting
postponed."
" And you have postponed it ? "
" Yes ; for Miss Adams is the central force of
DAVID BALDWIN 233
that committee. I've just sent word to the other
members."
" I am sorry about Mrs. Adams ; it's too bad that
her health is so uncertain. Mrs. Harrington has
asked us to stay for dinner : I told her we couldn't
possibly stay this time, but "
" Thank you, Mrs. Harrington ; now that com-
mittee meeting is postponed, we can stay just as
well as not. Come to think about it, we have
never broken bread with you yet, have we?"
Mrs. Harrington covered her confusion by ask-
ing Lillian to play something, and excusing her-
self again she fled to the kitchen.
" Goodness gracious, Nora ; they are going to
stay after all ! We haven't a single thing in the
house that's fit to eat."
" And it's too late now to send in any orders,"
added Nora.
"Well, we must do the best we can with what
we have on hand," groaned the woman who
prided herself on the presentableness of her table.
" What a shame to be caught this way by the
minister and his wife, too 1 "
Nora had her own opinion on the matter, but
she discreetly refrained from giving it utterance.
Meanwhile Lillian was relating to the minister
and his wife some instances concerning her little
brother Edgar.
" He wanted a wheel, a bicycle like papa's ;
and in his prayers he asked the Lord to send him
one for a birthday present. For several weeks be-
234 THE MINISTRY OF
fore his birthday he added this petition to his
little prayer every night. Well, papa and mamma
thought he was not quite old enough to manage
a bicycle so they bought a nice tricycle for him ;
and on the morning of his birthday we put it in
his room where he could see it the first thing when
he awoke."
" What did he say when he saw it ? "
"That was just what we wanted to hear. Some
of us hid in the corner where he couldn't see us
but where we could see him. We didn't have
to wait long. Soon he began to stir and rub his
eyes; then all at once he raised himself up on
his elbow and looked around. His eyes fell on
the tricycle. A look of disgust swept over his
face. I could hardly keep from laughing.
" * Why, Dod,' said he, looking scornfully at the
object which had aroused his disgust, * tought
you noo mor'n dis. Humph ! not to know th'
dif'erence 'tween a bike an' dat ting 1 ' We
thought it was too cute for anything."
" Did he use the tricycle? "
" He wouldn't touch it ! And for several nights
he didn't want to say his prayers. Mamma just
had to make him say 'em."
" The poor little man ! " said Miriam.
" Yes, he took the matter so much to heart, papa
bought him a wheel."
" Did he think that the Lord sent it ? "
" Yes ; you should have heard him the night
after he got it. He told the Lord all about how
DAVID BALDWIN 235
glad he was, and even promised to forgive him for
the mistake he had made in not sending the * bike '
at first."
"Such little folks must be very interesting.
Some children are so much more original than
others."
" Indeed, they are. And Edgar is so original.
He is all the time asking such unexpected ques-
tions. But I must tell you of another one of his
prayers. It was some time ago. Mamma was
just teaching him to kneel and repeat a little
prayer. One of the phrases in the prayer was
' And keep Edgar a good boy.' He was still in
dresses and he had been teasing mamma to make
him a pair of pants. Well, one night mamma was
ill and papa put Edgar to bed. The little fellow
was sleepy and when he came to say his prayers
papa had to help him in two or three places.
" * And make Edgar ' papa began, when they
came to that part of the prayer. Now mamma
had always used the words, * And keep Edgar a
good boy.' But papa used the word ' make ' and
it aroused an unexpected response in the little
boy's sleepy brain.
" * And make Edgar a pair of pants,' was the
way he finished the phrase."
" He knew what he really wanted even if he
was half asleep," laughed the minister.
" And such questions as he asks ! I'm sure I
never asked such questions when I was his age.
One day he came into mamma's sewing-room,
236 THE MINISTRY OF
walked right up to her and asked if God could
make anything he wanted to. Mamma replied that
she thought he could. Edgar stood a moment.
" ' I wish he'd make some wasser wivout th'
wet to it,' said he, glancing down at his wet
shoes."
" Water without the wet to it 1 That was quite
an idea."
" At another time he wanted to know if God
could make a piece of paper with only one side to
it. And if he has asked one, he has asked a thou-
sand questions. Sometimes they are the result of
his own observation.
" ' What is it that has two wings and cannot
fly ? ' Papa tried to guess but had to give it up.
" * A robin with a broken wing/ shouted Edgar
gleefully. He had seen one that morning out in
the back yard."
" It must have taken considerable reasoning to
ask such a question. Children doubtless learn to
reason much earlier than we are accustomed to
think."
" But Edgar, we think, is quite the exception.
You would have laughed to hear him one night
last summer. One of the neighbor boys was over
to play with Tom, and these two didn't want
Edgar about ; he was too little to join in their fun,
whatever it was. So they thought they would
scare him ; and then he'd leave them alone.
" The two older boys managed tQ slip away from
Edgar and hide in the cellarway. He looked
DAVID BALDWIN 23 T
around and finally opened the cellar door and
peered down. All was dark. Thinking to
frighten him, Tom, in a very sepulchral voice,
said
" ' Pm a boogger.'
" VPm a boogger/ said the other boy, in the
same unearthly tone.
"They supposed Edgar would close the door
and run away. But he didn't. He put his head
a little further in the darkness, and in a voice ex-
actly similar to the other boys', said
" < And Pm a boogger, too 1 ' "
" Couldn't fool him."
" No. The boys had to let him play with them,
though he was three or four years younger."
" I suppose there are some stories told about
you and Tom what you did or said when you
were real young ? " said the minister.
" Not many. Edgar seems to be the only one
in our family in that line. Though Tom did get
his hand into a crock of milk one time when he
thought he was reaching up where the cookies
were. But mamma had moved them. He didn't
know what to do with the cream that stuck to his
fingers. He tasted of it and it was sour. He was
about to wipe it on his trousers when he hap-
pened to think that mamma would be sure to see
it if he did that. At last a happy thought struck
him : his hair was long and curly just the
place.
" After a few minutes he walked into the sitting-
238 THE MINISTRY OF
room where mamma had callers. Soon she ob-
served something strange about his head.
" Why, Tom, what's this in your hair ? ' she said,
drawing him nearer the window.
" ' NothinY said Tom.
" ' Why, child, it looks like cream. Oh, I know
all about it now. I changed the cookie crock
this morning. So Tom has been into mother's
cookies ? '
" Tom's reply has passed into a proverb.
" ' No, mamma ; I wasn't into the cookies. I
was just a looking for my fishline.' "
" Tom will be sent to Congress some day," ob-
served the minister. " And now, Lillian, what
stories do they tell about you ? "
" Oh, nothing of any importance."
" But let us hear one of them."
" It doesn't amount to very much. But I've
heard mamma tell it several times. When I was
a little tot she found me one rainy Sunday after-
noon up-stairs, kneeling down by my bed, and
saying my prayers over and over and over. Finally
she asked me what I was doing it for.
" 'Why, don't you see? I'm sayin' a lot of 'em
up ahead.'
" ' Saying your prayers up ahead ? ' asked
mamma, astonished at my remark. 'What are
you saying your prayers up ahead for ? ' She says
that I replied :
" ' So I won't be bovered with 'em for a dood
while.' "
DAVID BALDWIN 239
" You were quite in line, Lillian, with a very
popular custom," laughed the minister ; " that of
packing enough religion into Sunday to last the
rest of the week."
The dinner was late. When they went out,
though a heroic effort had been made to save the
day, it was evident that Mrs. Harrington had not
expected them to stay, despite the fact that she
had warmly urged them to do so. Let us not
blame Mrs. Harrington too severely, for it is more
than probable that other ladies not born diplo-
mats either have urged their friends to stay to
dinner when at the same time they were fearful
lest their invitations be accepted. If only we were
all gifted with some subtle power of insight to en-
able us to discern when our hosts really meant
what they said ! Yes, but what revelations would
sometimes appear! Doubtless human society is
better off without such power of insight.
His church calls troubled David Baldwin not a
little. He soon found that all the elderly ladies
in his congregation felt they had a special claim
on him and expected him to call every few weeks ;
and if he did not call as often as their former
pastor had done, they felt slighted. There were
also several families who needed to be called on
frequently to keep them regular in their church
attendance. If the pastor did not call about so
often, they would relapse into indifference toward
their church duties.
240 THE MINISTRY OF
While Miriam accompanied him as often as
possible in making his calls, there were times
when her duties at home made this impossible.
As the male portion of the family was usually ab-
sent when he called, David soon learned, instinc-
tively, to skip certain places when Miriam was not
with him.
" Why ? " asked Miriam, innocently.
" People would soon begin to * talk.' "
"Surely, David, you cannot mean " and
Miriam hesitated.
" Yes ; I mean that it would be the easiest thing
in the world for the minister to lose his reputation
by thoughtlessly calling a few times alone on some
of the families of his congregation."
" But, David, what wrong would there be in
your calling alone?"
" No wrong whatever in itself ; the harm consists
in what certain other people neighborhood gos-
sips would say about it."
" Is that the reason you always take me with
you to certain places ? "
"Yes."
" But how can you tell where such places are
the homes where people would talk if you called
there alone ? "
" By instinct or, in a woman, I suppose it would
be called intuition. Of course in the majority of
cases I feel that nothing, whatever, would be said.
I run in quite frequently at Mrs. Wood's the
doctor is nearly always out or busy, but that
DAVID BALDWIN 241
doesn't make any difference. Mrs. Wood and 1
have the best of chats. She says she sometimes
gets more out of them than from my sermons."
" She was telling me just the other day how
much she enjoyed your calls."
"It's so easy to talk with her on religious sub-
jects. She has been unsatisfied with many of the
older positions for a long while, but has been
holding on to them because she thought she
must."
" Possessing beliefs that did not possess her."
" She couldn't have stated her own case more
exactly herself. She was brought up on the sub-
stitutionary theory of the atonement that Christ
was punished in our stead. When she came to
think independently on these great themes, this
view of Christ's work that his sufferings were to
appease the wrath of God gave her such a ter-
rible conception of God that she began to doubt
and question it."
" I am so glad that you have been able to help
her. It must be such a satisfaction 1 "
" Indeed it is I A few such experiences go a
good way in offsetting some others not so agree-
able. I shall never forget the time when Mrs.
Wood caught the newer conception of Christ's
sacrifice. Her countenance, always clothed with
serenity, fairly glowed as the cloud of perplexity
disappeared.
" I shall not soon forget the joyous note in her
tone as she said
242 DAVID BALDWIN
" * I see it now ! Why, it is what I have always
wanted to believe, but did not dare : Christ's suf-
ferings were not punishment, but the inevitable re-
sults of living a life of holy love in a sinful world/
" After we had talked a while longer she made
another statement that I shall always remember."
"What was it?" asked Miriam.
" * Oh, how much more humane God becomes
when we look at Christ's sufferings in that way 1 '
" Indeed, I feel that there are few greater priv-
ileges or deeper joys than to open doors into
newer and broader and deeper conceptions of real-
ity. But the cost of it ! "
Miriam looked into her husband's eyes, ques-
tioning.
" Yet the man who would not give his life for
the privilege of opening doors, is unworthy of that
high service to his age."
"That was the price that the Christ had to
pay."
"Yes," repeated David with unwonted so-
lemnity ; " that was the price the Christ had to
pay."
XVII
IT was the third Monday after Easter David
Baldwin's second Easter as pastor of his
church. The pastor was in his study writing
some letters. While the forenoon was yet young,
a caller was announced.
"Ah, good-morning, Mr. Driver.' 1
David Baldwin rose from his desk and extended
his hand.
" Let me take your hat. You will find that
chair by the window quite comfortable."
Mr. Driver took his pastor's hand very coldly.
" No can't stay won't be worth while to sit
down."
With no attempt to conceal a disturbed state of
mind, the pastor's caller jerked these words out,
bit them off savagely and hurled them into the air
with an intensity which charged the atmosphere
with their heat. Baldwin felt the difference even
if the thermometer did not.
" No," ignoring the chair, and holding his gray
felt hat in his hand, " I'll not sit down. When I've
got something to say to a man, I want to stand on
my feet."
He walked nervously from one side of the room
to the other, then, turning, he faced his pastor with
a question,
"That ritualistic nonsense! I want to know,
243
THE MINISTRY OF
young man, how much longer you are intending
to keep it up ? "
The speaker's gray eyes fairly snapped ; his out-
stretched arm quivered with unspoken rage ; his
tone, had he been denouncing the most heinous
practice known to man, could not have expressed
more venom ; his words fairly hissed as he spat
them out of his throat.
"I've come to ask you a fair and square ques-
tion it's not my way to beat 'round the bush, for
when I've got anything to say, I say it right to a
man's face I want to know how long you pro-
pose to keep up that ritualistic nonsense you
started three Sundays ago ? "
" Why, I " began the pastor, utterly un-
conscious till that moment that he had given
offense in the direction indicated.
" For if you are determined to persist in con-
tinuing this thing, I am here to say, young man,
that I am hostile to it ! " He ground the word
" hostile " almost to powder as he held it an instant
between his teeth. " Yes, sir, I am hostile to it 1 "
raising his voice to an exclamatory pitch.
"These responses, this ritualistic nonsense,
you've introduced, smack of the ritualism of
Rome," he hissed. " If this goes on unchecked,
if we tamely submit to this pernicious innovation,
young man, who can tell but that the next thing
you do you'll be burning incense and wearing a
surplice the very livery of hell 1 "
David Baldwin stood at the back of his study
DAVID BALDWIN 245
chair, his hand tightening nervously as he grasped
the projecting corner. To reply or to interrupt
was alike useless ; for Driver, with only a pause to
get his breath, poured forth another broadside.
" So far as your preaching is concerned I have
little fault to find. In many ways I like it : your
sermons often accord with my own thoughts.
Doctrines come and go. We have ours; other
generations have had their own. But, young man,
the customs of this church, if you intend to in-
sist on changing the customs of this church, that
is quite a different matter. I want you to under-
stand you are not hired for that purpose. For
over fifty years I've been a member of this church,
its customs are dear to me, associated as they
are with the most sacred things of my life and do
you suppose Pll tamely submit to your innovations
at this late date ? I tell you I'll fight 'em to the
bitter end yes, to the bitter end !
" I'm hostile to that ritual you have introduced.
If you feel bound to continue using it, let me say
to you right here and now : this church will soon
need another pastor. For either you or I will have
to get out, and / don't intend to leave. I have
told you plainly how I feel about these responses
and the rest of your ritualistic nonsense. Now
that you know my opinion, perhaps you can tell
me what you intend to do ? "
He stood in the middle of the floor, in the atti-
tude of a superior power, having just issued an
ultimatum, a fine picture if only the occasion had
246 THE MINISTRY OF
been more worthy of his mettle. In his own mind
it was worthy more's the pity for while he was
favorable to many of the newer positions in doc-
trine, to changes in customs or methods, he was
uncompromising in his opposition. In his mind
the First Church was identified with certain cus-
toms and practices : these were the central things ,
these he loved with partisan intensity, loved as the
martyrs had loved the things which led them to
endure the blaze of fagots, the torture of the rack.
If occasion could have arisen, he would gladly
have given his life for the things he held dear
the customs and practices of his church ; as his
martyr ancestors had given their lives in witness
to cherished doctrines and beliefs.
Unfortunately, the zeal of the martyr, when op-
portunity permits, is all too easily transformed
into the zeal of the inquisitor, a matter of attitude
determined by the lack or the possession of power.
Are not the pages of history replete with such ex-
amples where the lack of power makes the inquis-
itor into a martyr, and the possession of power,
the martyr into an inquisitor ?
Power of a most convincing nature lay in the
hands of Amos Driver: he was the largest con-
tributor in the membership of his church. In full
consciousness of this power, he stood before his
pastor.
" I slept scarcely a wink last night," he went on
fiercely ; " this perverse nonsense you've intro-
duced into the church service has upset me so !
DAVID BALDWIN 247
And it was the same thing last week. Why, I
didn't get settled down so that I could sleep till
the middle of the week. Young man, I'm too old
to stand any changes in our church service. For
fifty years things have gone on unchanged. Some
few of your predecessors have felt called upon to
introduce pernicious innovations, but I have fought
'em, every one to the bitter end.
" And what became of every one of these men
that insisted on changing the customs of this
church ? Young man, I ask again what became
of these men ? They soon found it convenient to
resign. Yes, sir ; they all had to leave, persuaded
doubtless that the Lord had work for them in some
other field. Humph ! What excuses ministers
trump up sometimes when they are forced to re-
sign ! The Lord calling them to another field.
Bah ! But that's neither here nor there. What I
want you to understand is that no man can long
remain the pastor of this church without my con-
sent. And now I want to know if you are de-
termined to keep up the use of that ritual you in-
troduced three Sundays ago?"
" I am sorry, Mr. Driver," began David Baldwin,
speaking calmly, his voice giving evidence of re-
strained pressure ; " I am exceedingly sorry that
anything I have done "
" That's not the point ! Answer my question !
What do I care whether you are sorry or not.
Just as if that would mend matters. Humph !
Are you going to continue the use of that ritual ?
248 THE MINISTKY OF
That's what I want to know. Answer ^my ques-
tion," fiercely, taking a step near his pastor, and
glaring at him with eyes emitting intense anger.
" Perhaps I don't quite understand what you
mean, Mr. Driver," began David Baldwin. " Your
language is more familiar to yourself than to me.
But if I am able to comprehend your meaning,
you are displeased with certain changes I have
made in our church service, changes calculated to
add richness and variety to our worship. You are
the first one, Mr. Driver, who has had anything
to say against these changes, while a score of
people have said something to me in their
favor.
" Without the least previous intimation of your
displeasure, you now demand that I discontinue
the use of these responses, though their use is
sanctioned by the rest of the church. You "
" Young man ! I didn't come here to debate
this subject with you," snapped Mr. Driver, im-
patiently. " I don't care what the rest of the con-
gregation want. Most people have no mind of
their own. Whatever the minister does is law and
gospel to them. But I've a mind of my own ! /
know what belongs to the service of a church of
our denomination, if they don't. And I want
these innovations, that smack of popery, to cease.
Understand?"
" I think I understand, Mr. Driver."
" Well ? You haven't answered my question
yet."
DAVID BALDWIN 249
" The only answer I can give at present is that
I will take into consideration what you "
"Consideration your grandmother! What do
I care whether you take the matter into consid-
eration or not," scornfully. "You have got
ordinary common sense, ain't you? Well, then,
answer my question at oncel I will repeat it
again, very slowly, so that even a blockhead
I'm not saying that you are one could under-
stand it and give his answer without all this de-
lay : Will you or will you not discontinue dis-
continue means, young man, to stop and stop at
once that ritualistic nonsense which you have
seen fit to lug into our church service during the
past three Sundays ? Answer me/"
" The only answer I can possibly give you, Mr.
Driver, is that I will take into consideration what
you have said, and whatever seems best, in view
of everything concerned, why, that will be the
course to pursue. But just what that course will
be, I cannot at this moment tell."
" But I insist," shouted Driver, angrily. " I in-
sist on your answering my question ! "
" My hearing is very good, Mr. Driver. There
is no need of shouting. I can understand perfectly
what you say if you speak in an ordinary tone.
You have my answer. I can give you no other.
But permit me to say, Mr. Driver, I am exceed-
ingly sorry "
" Your grandmother ! " exclaimed Driver, unable
in other words to give vent to his scorn, his pas-
250 THE MINISTRY OF
sion something- beautiful to behold. "HI had as
little sense, young man, as some ministers seem to
have, I'd I'd yes, I'd become a preacher myself.
But thank the Lord, I haven't come to that yet.
Go on, young man ; go on. I fight in the open.
Don't blame me if this church is needing another
pastor before long blame your own perversity.
Now do just what you see fit."
He turned upon his heel and vanished.
Left alone, David Baldwin stood as one in a
trance. Could it be true ? could it possibly be
true ? Was it not all an awful dream ? Had he
actually heard the words that were still ringing in
his ears ? What had he done to call down upon
himself this terrible avalanche of scalding words ?
His temples throbbed, his face burned, a tightness
clutched him about the heart, a brick of immense
size seemed to be lodged in his stomach. He
went to the window and opened it wide the air
of his study was charged with those hissing
words !
He sat down and tried to think.
" I might have been a little more conciliatory :
but it was all so sudden. Did I do right in refus-
ing to comply with his demand? Should a
church "
A soft knocking at his study door brought him
out of his reverie.
" Why, Mrs. Wood ! Come right in. How are
you this morning ? "
" I'm well, thank you," taking the chair he of-
DAVID BALDWIN 251
fered her. " Mr. Driver has been to see you, hasn't
he?"
" Yes, he has just gone."
" Mrs. Driver told me last evening on our way
home from church that her husband had taken a
violent dislike to the changes you have made in
the morning service. Mrs. Driver feels so sorry ;
she was afraid that he would cause you some
trouble. Strange, that he should get so worked
up over such a matter ! Mrs. Driver said he was
so upset that it was impossible for him to sleep ! "
" I am very sorry. Mrs. Driver or some one
should have told me. It is not my desire to annoy
any one ; and as a personal matter I would have
done almost anything rather than discomfort Mr.
Driver or any one else. But coming to me as he
did, in the spirit of a dictator, I feel that it is alto-
gether another matter."
" I can imagine what he said was not very
pleasant to hear."
" Well, of course, he is an old man and scarcely
knew what he was saying. I tried hard to be
patient with him."
" His temper is something awful when it's
aroused. It's hard to understand how he can be so
delightfully liberal in his theology and so, so im-
movably conservative in regard to the customs and
practices of the church."
"One would think that these customs had been
delivered to the church by special revelation, and
that he was their divinely appointed guardian.
252 THE MINISTRY OF
Has he always been this way ? I mean since you
have known him, Mrs. Wood ? "
" Yes ; only I think he is worse as he gets
older."
" From what he said I begin to understand why
this church has had nearly twenty-five pastors dur-
ing the past fifty years. No church can thrive
under such conditions."
" I know it. We all know it. But what are we
to do ? Our membership is small."
" No wonder."
" And most of the members are in very ordinary
circumstances, financially. Mr. Driver is our only
wealthy member. Mr. Brand comes next. Mr.
Driver gives very liberally to the church. His
pocketbook is always open. But he has his
notions and is very set in his way. We have al-
ways given in to him because that was the only way
we could get along."
" I feel sure, Mrs. Wood, that the church would
be much stronger to-day if the rest of the members
had not given in to him. Why, during the past
quarter of a century the other churches in this city
have doubled their membership, some of them,
two or three times. What has this church done ?
Scarcely held its own."
" I know it. I sometimes think that this church
has wonderful vitality or it must have died long
ago. How provoking that Mr. Driver should an-
noy you now that we seem to be taking on new
life again. It was nice of the Ellwoods, wasn't it,
DAVID BALDWIN 253
to keep on coming to our church after that dis-
graceful haggling over their church letters ? That
section in our by-laws, we owe to Mr. Driver."
" I can well believe it from the use he makes of
it."
" Oh, I think a minister's life must be so hard.
I used to think it would be grand to have Harold
study for the ministry ; but I have changed my
mind. I wouldn't want a boy of mine to be a
minister for the world. Such haggling 1 Such
unreasoned opposition ! I don't see how a minis-
ter can stand it. / couldn't it would kill me 1 "
" You have heard, haven't you, of backs being
fitted for their burdens ? Well, I'm coming to be-
lieve that there's a good deal of truth in the say-
ing. Why, if any one had told me two years ago
that I could have stood some of the things I have
stood, I wouldn't have believed it If I deviate
the least particle from the established customs of
the church, Mr. Driver hauls me up ; if I present
any phase of the religious experience in a different
manner, or give a new emphasis to any old truth,
or in any way interpret life from the modern point
of view, then Mr. Brand and Deacon Long are
after me."
" Oh, it's a shame ! I do wish something could
be done. Are other churches like this?"
" Indeed, I hope not, Mrs. Wood. The church
situation is something like this : in every denomi-
nation now there are coming to be two parties or
rather groups ; and there is more distinctive dif-
254 THE MINISTRY OF
ference between these two groups within the de-
nominations than there is between the denomina-
tions, themselves."
" You mean that in every denomination, some
hold to the older thought, and some to the new ? "
" Yes. Broadly speaking the religious world is
not divided into denominations, but rather into
these two great divisions those who cherish the
doctrines they have inherited and believe that
these are final expressions of religious truth ; that
all men should accept them, this is the one
great group. Its members are found everywhere."
" The group to which I used to belong," said
Mrs. Wood. " I thought it was a sin to doubt
any of the beliefs on which I had been brought
up."
" Yes, most of us were brought up in this group
and know by painful experience those of us who
have left it how hard it was, the transition into
the other section. Many have made this transition
not of choice but of necessity, being unable longer
to interpret their religious experience in the terms
of their inherited beliefs."
" Indeed, I know just what that means, Mr.
Baldwin. For years I held to some of the older
doctrines, though they didn't satisfy me. I was
driven into the newer thought even against my
will."
"In most churches," continued Mr. Baldwin,
" there are adherents of both of these great sec-
tions. Of course in some instances churches are
DAVID BALDWIN 255
all one or the other. With us the contest is
on."
" It certainly is. But it must be some relief to
be able to understand it," rising. " I must be go-
ing. How is Mrs. Baldwin ? "
" She is well, thank you. Feel free to run in any
time. Good-morning."
David Baldwin sat down again at his desk. He
was calm now and it seemed a long time ago,
that other call from Mr. Driver.
" I will ask the members at the midweek service
to express their opinion concerning the changes I
have made in the morning service. That will be
the best way, and I'll ask Mr. Driver to be present,
so that both sides may be heard." Having for-
mulated this plan, David Baldwin dismissed the
subject so far as he could from his mind.
XVIII
" \"T THY, girls, what's the matter?" asked
\/\/ Mrs. Stewart, as her daughters were
returning from prayer-meeting.
" Oh, such a time as we had to-night ! "
" A perfect circus, mother ! 'Twas worse than a
circus."
" I never witnessed such a disgraceful affair ! "
Mary and Cora and Elizabeth were all talking
at once.
" And in a church, too ! "
" It was worse than any political meeting,
mother."
" I felt so sorry for Mrs. Baldwin 1 "
" And for Mr. Baldwin, too 1 "
Mrs. Stewart looked from one to the other of her
daughters as they entered the sitting-room.
" Oh, mother, such a time as we had at prayer-
meeting to-night 1 "
" It broke up in confusion ! "
" It was this way, mother," said Mary disregard-
ing the interruptions of the other girls ; " before
the close of the service Mr. Baldwin said that he
wished to know how the members present felt
about the value of the responses and other changes
he had introduced in the morning service ; that
some had spoken to him heartily in their favor,
256
DAVID BALDWIN 257
while there were others who did not approve of
them."
"Well?"
" He went on to say," continued Mary, " that
the church was a community of individuals bound
together for their common good that each should
desire what was for the good of the greatest num-
ber."
"Yes."
" He said he did not wish to bring the matter
to a vote, but simply to know how various indi-
viduals regarded these changes whether they
were helpful or not in adding richness to the
church service."
" I see nothing in this to get excited over,"
commented Mrs. Stewart.
" But; wait, mother ; just wait ! " cried Cora.
" The excitement came after this."
" Yet you could almost feel that something was
going to happen. I know I did," added Elizabeth.
" After the minister said he wanted everyone
to feel perfectly free to say exactly what they
thought as to these changes, before any one else
had time to get on their feet or say a word, Mr.
Driver got up and "
" From the look on his face, the rest of us just
sat there and held our breath," said Cora.
" Yes," added Elizabeth ; " the room got so
still ! "
" The Stone girls, sitting near me, were if any-
thing more frightened than I was."
258 THE MINISTRY OF
" Mr. Driver," repeated Mary, " got up and
without saying a word made his way to the open
space in front "
"Just off to the left of where the pastor sits."
" Near the door leading into the auditorium."
" and stood so that he faced both the pastor
and the rest of us."
" His eyes snapped ! "
" Oh, mother, it was simply awful ! "
" But, Mary, what did he say ? You don't mean
to tell me that Mr. Driver simply stood there with-
out saying anything. Tell me, child, what did he
say ? " with some impatience.
" What didn't he say ? Why, mother, for fifteen
minutes he poured forth such a stream of abusive
language as I hope never to be compelled to listen
to again. He charged Mr. Baldwin with attack-
ing the established customs of the denomination ;
that he, a young man, was taking it upon himself
to reform the settled practices of centuries ; that
he was introducing the ritual of Rome and would
soon be burning incense. Oh, I can't tell you
what he didrit say ! "
" He addressed the pastor personally he said
'you' 'you* are doing this 'you' are doing
that."
" His words were simply awful. But the tone in
which he spoke was a thousand times worse! "
" Yes, his manner gave a double edge to every-
thing he said."
" I never knew that a man could be so abusive ! "
DAVID BALDWIN 259
"What did Mr. Baldwin do?" asked Mrs.
Stewart.
"What did he do? Why, mother, just what
the rest of us did he sat still amazed non-
plussed spellbound. Oh, it was like witnessing
the rush of Niagara : one simply forgot all else.
I've heard Mr. Driver explode before ; but never,
never like this ! There wasn't an abusive word
in the dictionary in his dictionary that he didn't
use. He couldn't possibly have been more in-
sulting than he was to Mr. Baldwin."
" And at the close of a prayer-meeting ! "
"You see, mother, Mr. Driver is very much op-
posed to changing any of the customs of the
church. He was afraid lest some of us should
speak in favor of these changes : so he opened
fire first. He talked so long and so abusively, the
meeting simply broke up before any one else
could say anything. Many of the ladies left the
room in tears."
"And was the minister's wife there, you say?"
asked the mother, anxiously.
"Yes. She left the room. Great tears were
streaming down her cheeks as she went out."
" Too bad ! Too bad ! The worst possible thing
for a woman in her condition," said Mrs. Stewart,
sympathetically. " She should be saved from all
excitement."
" But, mother," persisted Mary, " a prayer-meet-
ing should be a safe place for any one to go even
an expectant mother shouldn't it?"
260 DAVID BALDWIN
" Certainly, my dear ; certainly, under ordinary
circumstances. But in our church, it seems, one
can never tell what's going to happen next"
" I suppose it will be Mr. Brand's turn now.
These men usually take turns in creating such
disturbances."
Strange to relate, this remark contained the ele-
ments of a prediction.
XIX
THERE are some experiences in life im-
possible of description. Before your first
visit to the seashore you had read well-
written descriptions of the ocean ; but words and
sentences and skill of rhetoric did not convey to
you a hundredth part of the meaning which you
yourself found as you sat for hours gazing far out
upon that restless, boundless deep. So, too, the
young soldier, in his first actual engagement with
the enemy, learns that less than a thousandth part
of the reality of battle has ever been transferred
to the printed page or could be thus transferred.
In a similar manner Mary Stewart and her
sisters found words but poor, weak instruments, in
their endeavor to make their mother realize what
had happened at that memorable prayer-meeting,
although they were accustomed to using words,
were these sisters. But more than once Mary had
to resort to such phrases as, " Why, mother, it
was simply awful ; it was terrible."
The opinions of others at the meeting were
equally decided.
" The most abusive speech one man could pos-
sibly make to another," said Mrs. Strong. And
Mrs. Terry corroborated,
"A more venomous tirade I never heard. It
took us so by surprise we didn't know what to do.
261
262 THE MINISTRY OF
I had heard Mr. Driver say some pretty harsh
things before, but never anything so unchristian,
so outrageous as this. Truly, I do not believe the
man is in his right mind. In many respects Mr.
Driver is a good man. But to-night he couldn't
have acted worse if he had been possessed of the
devil."
" Who knows but that he was ? " suggested Miss
Terry, whose religious ideas were strictly of the
modern type. " You know, mother, some people
still believe in demoniacal possession as mentioned
in the New Testament."
" I more than half believe in it myself," said
Mrs. Terry. " My daughter and I do not agree
on many of these questions," she added. " But
truly it would be a relief to believe that Mr.
Driver was possessed. His .eyes emitted sparks.
I never saw a human being so fierce."
" No, it's out of the question, Dominie, for you
to think of preaching on Sunday," said Mr.
Strong, who with several others had stopped at
the pastor's home on their way from the church.
" You and Mrs. Baldwin must go away for a few
days and try to get this miserable affair out of
your minds. If you don't you will be sick, both of
you. We'll see to the services."
Mrs. Terry and Mrs. Wood heartily seconded
Mr. Strong's suggestion.
For an hour they sat and discussed the situa-
tion.
" Well, let us say no more about that meeting.
DAVID BALDWIN 263
It seems like a horrid nightmare, too awful to be
true," said Mrs. Strong. " The best thing we can
do is to dismiss it from our minds if we can.
The avalanche has struck us : we must repair the
damages as far as possible."
" Yes, as far as possible. But some damages are
irreparable," observed Mrs. Terry.
" I wonder how you could sit there and endure
it as you did ! " exclaimed Mrs. Strong addressing
her pastor, forgetful of the advice she had just
given.
" Indeed, I am surprised at it myself, now that I
look back on it," replied Mr. Baldwin. "While
Mr. Driver was talking, it seemed to me as if he
were berating some one else, yet all the time I
knew that I was the one. But how I managed to
sit still under it all, is more than I can under-
stand."
" Why didn't some of you men get up and stop
him ? " asked Mrs. Wood.
" We'll take a constable with us to prayer-meet-
ing after this," said Miss Appleton.
" I for one don't feel very much like going to
prayer-meeting again very soon," said Miss Fen-
wick.
With an unexpected leave of absence thrust
upon them, the next question was where should
they spend it ? It was finally decided to call up
the Hiltons by long distance 'phone.
" Yes, we're home and will be delighted to see
264 THE MINISTRY OF
you. By all means come if you can get away,"
came back over the wire.
"Well, that's settled. We'll take the nine
o'clock train in the morning."
The Hiltons had visited them during the holi-
days. Tom Hilton and Baldwin had known each
other intimately in the Divinity School ; but like
many other such friendships theirs would doubtless
have languished and perhaps finally died, had it
not been for the fortunate circumstance that Tom
Hilton had married one of Miriam's intimate Vas-
sar friends. He was now pastor of an important
church in Madison.
Hilton was a little older than Baldwin, a very
brilliant man, known in his student days as a warm
champion of the newer thought ; a man of large
soul and endowed with a keen sense of humor
just the kind of a man to make one forget, when
to forget is the imperative duty.
He was at the station as their train pulled in.
His welcome was characteristic.
" I am mighty glad you could come," said he.
" The fishing season has just opened, and I'm in
sad need of some one to do the rowing while I pull
'em in. Say, but you won't mind rowing all the
time, will you ? "
Taking the street car they rode up past the
capitol square and down on the other side to
within a block of the parsonage. Mrs. Tom, as
her husband fondly called his wife, welcomed
Miriam with open arms.
DAVID BALDWIN 265
" It was so nice of you to think of us. We shall
have such a good visit there are so many things
for us to talk about." As if this was something
unusual between two members of her sex, especially
when they had been in college together ! But
even though it were unusual, the present occasion
more than fully justified the remark of Miriam's
friend, since both were approaching the high and
holy experience of desired motherhood.
On Saturday morning while the men were out
on Third Lake fishing, Mrs. Tom took Miriam
into her own room ; and opening a drawer in the
lower part of her dresser, she proceeded to exhibit
certain dainty little garments for Miriam's inspec-
tion, with all the joy and pride of her happy heart.
Meanwhile Tom and David, though their friend-
ship was in its way as intimate as the friendship
between their wives, said nothing whatever to
each other concerning the great event in question.
Did it mean nothing to them ? Far from it. It
was one of their most constant subjects for
thought ; but being men, they did not discuss it
between themselves.
" I ought to insist on your preaching both
morning and evening," said Tom, reeling in his
line, the boat being anchored near a patch of
reeds at the upper end of the lake. " I fancy I'll
get that fellow this time," and away his line flew
off to the right of the bunch of reeds. It struck
the water and sank a few feet. Tom reeled
slowly, his eyes fixed on a certain spot, his body
266 THE MINISTRY OF
held in instant readiness to obey when the signal
came traveling up to his hands. An instant he
waited; an instant more. The current carried
the line a little farther out. Would that big
fellow never take the hook ? Tom knew he was
there. Again the line was cast in exactly the
same spot. It floated off as before and Tom be-
gan to reel it in. The fish was sulky, and would
not bite.
" I'll try the other side," thought Tom. He be-
gan to reel in the line when a quick jerk told him
that the big bass had changed his mind also.
" Watch him, Baldwin! Watch him ! He
races like a mustang ! "
Tom let him have plenty of line, so long as the
pull was strong ; but the instant the strain eased
up, he held his captive well in check, taking in
the line or paying it out as was necessary. Sev-
eral minutes elapsed. Tom let the fish take its
own time in getting thoroughly tired ; he was
then able to lead him with little difficulty.
" That makes seven," said he, safely landing the
bass. " Aren't they beauties ! Yes, I'll let you
off this time with only the morning service. My
congregation, you know, doesn't often get the
chance of hearing a good sermon. Two in one
day, I fear, might prove too much of a good
thing."
" I agree with you," said Baldwin ; " especially
since I wish to hear you preach."
So Baldwin preached in the morning and Hil-
DAVID BALDWIN 267
ton in the evening. When their lunch after the
evening service was finished, the ladies withdrew,
leaving the two men alone. They sat for an hour
and talked of old times.
" Tom, there's one thing I want to ask you,"
said Baldwin, turning somewhat abruptly from
the topic they were discussing.
" All right ; fire away, old man, only don't make
your question too hard." Hilton looked at his
friend rather curiously.
" Well, it's this and you needn't answer it un-
less you have a mind to but I would like to
know, Hilton, how it is that a man holding the
views you do, can preach the sermon you preached
this evening ? "
Hilton slid down in his easy-chair, crossed one
foot over the other, pursed his lips, and from
eyes half shut looked steadily for a moment into
the serious face of his friend. Baldwin's question
probed deeper than it was intended it should.
While the sermon Hilton had preached that even-
ing was a well prepared discourse, delivered with
grace and energy, the conceptions of life and of
the religious experience which it contained were
conceptions which in their student days both men
had found impossible to retain, in view of the
teachings of modern psychology.
" Your question, old man," began Hilton, at
last, speaking very slowly, " is one I wouldn't
care to answer before a houseful you understand.
But inter nos it's different. I don't mind telling
238 THE MINISTRY OF .
you, frankly, since you have asked me the ques-
tion, that my reasons for preaching that kind of a
sermon have just gone up to bed."
" You mean " hesitated Baldwin.
" Yes ; I mean my wife and the prospective
little one."
Neither of the men spoke for a moment.
" I beg your pardon, Tom, old man ; I shouldn't
have asked so personal a question," said Baldwin
finally.
" Oh, that's all right, Baldwin. Don't think of
it for an instant. I'm sure there's no need of
secrets between us. But it does cut a little to face
the issue squarely. The fact is, the martyr-stuff
is not over-abundant in my make up. I have a
good church here and want to stay ; I have a
family to support ; the ruling element in my
church is very conservative ; and well the
truth of the matter is, Baldwin, between you and
me I am not preaching just the kind of sermons
I'd like to preach. The conceptions of life that are
dearest to me, I don't put into my sermons.
Why ? Because I have a family to support. And
God only knows how this fact bears down upon
a man sometimes ! "
Baldwin knit his brow. Here was food for
thought.
" And mine is no solitary instance, I can assure
you," continued Hilton ; " though, of course, that's
nothing really in my favor. In nearly all of the
denominations the younger ministers are having
DAVID BALDWIN 269
to meet the same situation. Some are solving
it in one way, and some in another."
" Yes, this transition from the old to the new
is not confined to any community or church. It's
taking place everywhere that men and women
are being awakened to think for themselves ; and
to my mind this revolution in religious thinking
is a greater one than was the Reformation in
Luther's time."
" I think so too," answered Hilton. " Do you
know, Baldwin," he went on, " if I had my time
to go over again, I should not marry, or else I
should give up the ministry one or the other.
No man loves his family more than I do, God
knows, and no man is more lost without a home
of his own ; yet if I had it to do over again, I
should remain single. For a minister to have a
free hand in helping on this movement, he should
have either no family or an independent income.
That is the way I feel about it. With a family de-
pending on him, a man is not free to preach the
message that burns in his own soul, when to do so
endangers his support."
" In my case, however," rejoined David, " the
church stipulated as one of the conditions in my
call, that I should get married before beginning
my work. And I am glad they did. For my
part I haven't come to feel just as you do ; but, of
course, each one must solve these problems in his
own way. We have our problems at Tioga, I
can assure you ; the fact is -but I have promised
270 THE MINISTRY OF
Miriam that I would not get to discussing the
situation at Tioga at all. We had an explosion
at our midweek service last week but I must not
say another word about it. By the way, have you
had any wedding experiences that come up to my
* beeswax fee' ?"
" I've had two interesting cases since the holi-
days but I do not think they quite equal that ex-
perience you were telling me about. I've laughed
over that a half-dozen times."
"What were yours like?" asked Baldwin set-
tling himself to hear Hilton's story.
"Well, the first one," began Hilton with a zest
characteristic of clergymen when they are ex-
changing stories, " the first one was quite a swell
affair, the bride being a wealthy spinster, a typical
old maid but with money enough to support
several ordinary families. The groom I had
never seen before nor since. He was a man past
middle life, dressed in the height of fashion and of
very imposing appearance, a man with a million
couldn't have cut a wider swath.
" Well, after I had performed the marriage, the
groom himself very graciously handed me an en-
velope, accompanying the act with unbounded
dignity. I carefully tucked the precious envelope
into one of my deepest pockets. It was, of course,
some time before I got the opportunity to open the
envelope ; and when I did so, its contents, neatly
folded, slipped out into my hand. My surprise
couldn't have been greater."
DAVID BALDWIN 271
" How much was it ? " asked Baldwin.
" I stared at it for a moment, unable to believe
my eyes. The envelope contained, instead of a
fee, an advertisement for corns and bunions !
The man was a fake. The woman came back
without him, after a few weeks."
" That was one on you," laughed Baldwin.
" You will be tempted to make them pay in ad-
vance, after this. But what was your other ex-
perience like?"
" Oh, the other one wasn't funny. It was simply
a mistake, yet it was laughable, too. It came out
all right in the end, however, and that was the best
of it.
" We'd had a nice church wedding, and the best
man handed me a neat little parcel done up in tis-
sue paper. It looked about the size of one or two
bills folded together very compactly. When I
opened the package I knew that some one had
made a mistake, but I didn't say anything.
" A few weeks later when the bridal party re-
turned from Europe, the young man who had
handed me the package came to me and said that
he hoped I would pardon his blunder and gave
me another little package quite similar in appear-
ance to the one he had given on the day of the
wedding.
" ' Do you wish the other one back? ' I asked.
" ' I hardly think it would be worth while,' he
answered laughing. ' Tobacco is too cheap.' "
" Tobacco ? " said Baldwin.
272 THE MINISTRY OF
" Yes. The first package contained a nice lit-
tle wad of chewing tobacco. The fellow was so
grateful to me for keeping the matter quiet that,
out of pure gratitude, he went and got married
himself so that I might have another fee."
" Very probably," laughed Baldwin. " Let me
see, yes it was since I saw you last that I had a
very peculiar case in the way of a marriage. A
man came to me and wanted to know if I would
marry him and his wife over again."
" Marry them over again ? Had they parted ? "
" No. They were living together happily as
they had been doing for twelve or fourteen years.
There were several children in the family and the
man was a steady, industrious fellow employed in
the iron foundry. I knew the family quite well.
" ' Why do you wish to be married again ? ' I
asked.
" * Well, it's this way,' said he, showing no little
embarrassment and confusion, * when the minister
married us, we didn't get no certificate, an' we
haven't anything to show that we ever were really
married. You see our children are now growin' up
and Kate and me felt kinder uneasy on their ac-
count, an' we thought p'raps it would be safer to
get married now I mean over again. It would
be safer in case anything should ever happen.'
" I asked him a number of questions and from
his replies I became convinced that he had never
been married at all. I hardly knew what to do.
What would you have done ? '
DAVID BALDWIN 273
" I would have married them, of course. Didn't
you ? "
" Yes. I thought it best not to make any in-
vestigation. I took the case as he represented it
and married them over again."
" It was strange that they didn't ask you to date
their certificate back to the time when they began
living together," said Hilton.
"They did ask it. But of course I couldn't do
it. I never have done such a thing and I never
will."
"It is sometimes exceedingly hard to refuse,
though. I had such a case last year. The young
man all but got down on his knees to me. I knew
him well, too ; but I told him that was one thing
I could not do, misdate a marriage certificate. I
tell you what, Baldwin, a preacher has lots of op-
portunity for making a first-hand study of human
nature. He meets people intimately and under
all kinds of conditions and circumstances. Human
nature is a pretty big subject, too, isn't it ? I feel
that I am only on the ragged edge of it and in the
primer class at that ; but I am learning some les-
sons which I hope never to forget. One of them
is this : I am convinced that in cases of wrong-
doing, if we could only know the circumstances
more fully, we would be more lenient and merciful
in our judgments. The great sin of the world, to
my mind, is neither drunkenness, nor immorality,
nor dishonesty, nor any of the vices for the com-
mittal of which society places a stigma upon its
274 DAVID BALDWIN
members. The great sin of humanity is some-
thing quite different and, in my humble judgment,
does more harm in every community than all of
these I have named put together.
"No," he continued as they rose to retire; "I
will not tell you the name of what I have in mind.
But think it out for yourself. I am quite sure you
will agree with me. Good-night, old man, and
pleasant dreams."
XX
" ^ ~\ 7 HAT is your subject this morning,
YY dear? "
The Baldwins were starting for
church. On the previous day they had returned
to Tioga from their visit with the Hiltons, greatly
benefited by their week's relaxation. All too short
had been the days for Miriam and her dear friend
Mrs. Tom so many topics were there for these
two women to discuss, so many questions each had
to ask the other. In Mrs. Tom, Miriam found all
that her heart had been hungering for some one
with whom she could share her great happiness.
The trip had done David good, also. He had
looked at his work from a distance a very need-
ful thing for any one to do now and then ; for
nearness is apt to destroy one's sense of per-
spective. In coming back to his work he de-
termined to be more moderate, more conciliatory,
if possible ; he could understand that it was diffi-
cult for some of the older members of his congre-
gation to adjust themselves to new ideas and to
modern methods, having been all their lives ac-
customed to those they had inherited ; doubtless he
had advanced more innovations than he had been
aware, even though he had studiously endeavored
to be moderate, so completely a part of his life
were the newer thoughts and ways.
275
276 THE MINISTRY OF
In keeping with this determination he decided
to drop the responses and other changes he had
introduced in the morning service, to drop them
not because of Mr. Driver's threat, but because he
was a minister of peace and it was sometimes a
higher virtue to yield than to contend. Further,
in selecting topics for his sermons he would try to
pick out themes containing a large element of com-
mon ground, common to both the older and the
newer thought ; themes on which he could express
himself freely without disturbing his conservative
hearers.
"I shall speak this morning on missions," he
replied to his wife's question. " A long time ago
some of the ladies asked me to preach a sermon
on missions, but I kept putting it off, and now I
am glad I did. The subject will come in all right
just at this time."
" Yes, missions ought to be a safe subject for any
one to speak on in almost any church. While it is
doubtless best, dear, for you to be as moderate as
you can be, I wouldn't for the world have you
adopt Tom Hilton's policy of suppressing the
newer thought altogether."
" I think you need have no fears along that
line," laughed David. " I couldn't suppress it if I
tried. It's too large a part of my life. I shall
make a desperate effort, however, to be very mod-
erate, to emphasize the points we hold in common,
as strongly as I can. But what a delightful morn-
ing this is ! "
DAVID BALDWIN 277
" Yes ; it's the first Sunday in May. The mira-
cle of returning life is in evidence everywhere."
" See those buds ! Those trees will soon be
covered with leaves. When I was a boy we always
planted corn when the maples began to leaf out."
"Why was that?"
" It was thought that all danger of frost was then
past. But I mustn't talk any more now or my
opening prayer will suffer for it."
With joyous step these two worshipers joined
the stream of people on their way up town to the
various churches.
On the moment that the organ voluntary began,
Baldwin entered his pulpit. The service was con-
ducted without response or chant, with all the se-
vere simplicity of the old-time New England meet-
ing house. By the close of the opening exercises,
two or three of the older brethren, whose names
are not to be mentioned in this narrative, settled
themselves down into the most comfortable position
possible, closed their eyes and were soon, to all
intents and purposes, enjoying their usual morn-
ing worship ; I had almost used another word.
In front of the speaker, nor far from the middle
of the church, sat Dr. and Mrs. James ; behind
them, on the left, were the Ellwoods ; in the rear
half of the central block of seats were a number of
university students. On one side of the church
sat Mr. Brand and his wife ; on the other side, Mr.
Driver and his family. The church was well filled
and many strange faces were in the audience.
278 THE MINISTRY OF
Sermons in books are not often interesting read-
ing. Too often they fail to hold the attention even
when reinforced by the preacher's voice and per-
sonality. But Baldwin's audience gave him ex-
cellent attention. It is highly probable, however,
that very few of his hearers could have told on
the next day much about the sermon, had it not
been for what happened immediately at its close,
while the preacher was opening his hymn-book to
announce the number of the closing hymn. What
happened set a hundred tongues to discussing the
discourse for many days to come.
And the thing that happened was this : Mr.
Brand quickly rose from his seat, stood in the
aisle by his pew, and without addressing the pas-
tor, began to speak. His words came as a shock
a proverbial thunderbolt out of a clear sky.
" We have been hearing strange things this
morning, brothers ; strange doctrines to come from
the pulpit of a church of our denomination ! "
The effect was electrical. The preacher paused
with hymn-book half open ; instantly half of the
congregation turned in their seats, while the rest
leaned forward with eyes in Brand's direction.
All held their breath in the intenseness of their
expectation. What would he say? What was
he going to do ? What strange things have they
been listening to, unsuspectingly? Miriam sat
where she could not see Mr. Brand without turn-
ing, and she did not move in her seat ; but she in-
stantly recognized his voice, and the color left her
DAVID BALDWIN 279
cheek. A strange apprehension seized her as she
clutched the arm of the seat, awaiting she knew
not what. A tightness settled about her heart and
she began to feel faint for the first time in her life.
" I repeat that we have been hearing strange
doctrines this morning, very strange indeed to
come from the pulpit of this church," said Mr.
Brand, still holding every one in suspense. " If
what our pastor says be true, then I for one, and
I am persuaded that there are many others in this
audience, have been studying the Bible in the
bondage of error, lo these many years. For our
pastor tells us one thing and our Bible, as we
have studied it, tells us another. But it may be
that our pastor's Bible is not like ours. I have
more than once thought that his Bible must be a
different kind from mine."
Miriam grasped her seat tighter and tighter as
these words sounded in her ears ; the feeling of
suffocation was almost overpowering her, as Mr.
Brand went on.
"My Bible teaches very plainly that without
Christ the heathen will be cast into eternal perdi-
tion, punishment everlasting and without end.
But our pastor has just told us that the present
missionary motive is not to rescue the heathen
from eternal punishment ; he tells that though the
earlier missionary motive was undoubtedly to res-
cue the heathen from such punishment, that now
in the light of our modern conceptions of God I
believe I am using his exact words the Christian
280 THE MINISTRY OF
world is finding it impossible to continue holding
that belief.
" Brethren, it is such teaching as this that is
sapping the very life of missionary effort in some
of the other denominations. I for one protest
against its introduction into our denomination.
We stand with both feet on the Word of God.
We acknowledge no other authority. For us
there is no other authority than the Bible. In the
inspired Word, which I accept from cover to
cover, God has revealed his holy will once for all
time. But our pastor does not quote the Bible as
the authority for his statement. His authority is
of an entirely different kind ' in the light of our
modern conceptions of Deity ' I believe he used
the word ' deity.'
" Brethren, in my humble judgment, the time
has fully come when we should decide whether
this church is to remain true to the fundamental
doctrines of the Word of God, or not. For one,
and I speak for others, it is exceedingly painful
for me to have to listen, Sunday after Sunday, to
the proclamation of doctrines not only not biblical,
but calculated to undermine the very foundations
of our denominational existence."
David Baldwin stood behind his pulpit as one
paralyzed, speechless. The audience, amazed,
nonplussed, held its breath, as one man. Miriam
was nerving herself with all the command of will
she could summon, to keep possession of her
senses. If only she could get up and go out ; but
DAVID BALDWIN 281
she did not dare trust herself to make the effort
she felt so faint and dizzy. Oh, if only Mr. Brand
would stop talking !
But Mr. Brand was speaking rapidly and had
no thought of stopping yet. Too long, far too long
had the pent up force of this outbreak been gath-
ering.
" To many of you," he continued, including the
audience with a gesture, " not having been trained
by special study in the beliefs of the denomina-
tion, the danger I have indicated may not be ap-
parent. But, brethren, as most of you know, I
spent three years in studying theology and I know
whereof I speak. I have prayed to be delivered
from this unpleasant and painful duty ; but if I
should keep still any longer I should feel recreant
both to my God and to my conscience, and would
no longer be able to look my brethren in the face.
Knowledge brings with it responsibilities and im-
perative duties. I have sometimes even wished
that I did not possess this knowledge of sacred
things ; at this moment I would gladly have it laid
upon the shoulders of any of my brethren, feeling
certain that it would compel him to arise in this
church service and defend the doctrines we cherish
so dearly, doctrines delivered to us as a priceless
heritage, made doubly sacred by the multitude of
men and women who have willingly endured im-
prisonment, nameless tortures, and even the stake,
rather than be faithless to these beliefs, leaving us
a noble example.
282 THE MINISTRY OF
" Now, brethren, it is our turn. Shall we prove
ourselves worthy of the high task committed to
our care? Shall we hand down to succeeding
generations these beliefs and practices as pure and
undefiled as when we received them ? I know the
answer that lies in your hearts, friends, neighbors,
members of this church ; I know your loyalty to
truth ; I know your love for the good old beliefs of
your fathers and mothers ; I know it is needed only
to bring this subject to your attention in order for
you to see your plain, your unmistakable duty.
You are resolved, I know I read your hearts
aright, you are resolved, let other denominations
follow after the uninspired teachings of modern
thought if they will, you are resolved to demand
that the preaching in this church shall no longer
be antagonistic to the beliefs and practices we
dearly cherish ; that our pastor be requested either
to conform to "
" Stop ! Not another word ! Not another
word more, or I'll pitch you headlong out of that
door ! " interrupted Professor Strong facing Mr.
Brand with a look which plainly indicated he
meant all he said and more. " Sit down ! I say,
sit down ! Can't you see that you have already
killed the pastor's wife ? "
Brand, silenced, sat down.
Miriam had fainted. David, leaping from the
pulpit platform, was at her side in an instant.
Dr. Wood arose and hurried to Baldwin's assist-
ance.
DAVID BALDWIN 283
The audience, not having been dismissed, and
held by the habit of awaiting the benediction, re-
mained seated. Mr. Strong stepped to the front.
" We are dismissed," said he. " Please pass out
as quietly and quickly as possible. Mrs. Baldwin
is ill no one knows how seriously. Wait ! There
will be no further services in this church to-day.
That is all. We are dismissed."
With soft tread and hushed voices the people
passed quietly out of the auditorium, many linger-
ing a moment at the doors to cast a backward
glance at the little group about the pastor's wife.
The physician's face was very grave. This stop-
ping of the action of the heart might mean, in her
case, something far more serious than ordinarily.
Strong had a carriage at the door within a few
minutes. Tenderly David and the doctor and Mr.
Strong carried the unconscious woman to her home,
taking her thus from the church service to which
she had set out so joyously two hours before.
What an unexpected experience the hours had
brought her !
All that day and all that night David Baldwin
was at Miriam's bedside. A trained nurse was
summoned and the physician was present a large
part of the time. As the dawn was breaking over
the eastern horizon, a double sorrow was meted out
to this anxious, watching husband : he gazed upon
the face of his first-born son, but it was the face of a
child born dead. His heart seemed torn asunder
as this sad fact beat in upon his slow powers of
284 DAVID BALDWIN
comprehension. His child dead ! Impossible !
He could not believe it. But the cruel fact was as
obstinate as it was cruel. The child to whose com-
ing he and Miriam had looked forward so fondly, so
expectantly, who seemed to them already the third
member of their little family this child was dead
born a corpse !
And the other sorrow was even greater, if pos-
sible, than the first : but the full meaning of it was
not borne in on his confused mind till later only
little by little and after hours and days of hoping
against hope, did he comprehend the bitterness of
the cup placed to his unwilling lips the powers
of Miriam's mind were dethroned, her reason had
fled!
Crushed and broken-hearted, David Baldwin re-
fused to be comforted ; for his anguish of heart was
great.
" Oh, the mystery of human suffering ! " he
cried. " Who can solve it ? Who can add a ray
of light to its meaning ? Not one step in human
progress can be taken but that some one must suf-
fer. Not one new idea can make its way into
human thought except some one must pave its
way by suffering. What, oh, what can be the
meaning of it all ? "
Such were some of the thoughts surging through
David Baldwin's mind. He was unconsciously
echoing a cry never very far from the human heart
since man began to think on the great experiences
of his existence.
XXI
THE hands of the little clock on David
Baldwin's study desk were nearing the
midnight hour, yet he was still sitting
there, a sheet of paper, finely written, in his hand.
On his face were traces of the inner conflict in
whose midst he was still held after a whole even-
ing's struggle.
The six interminable weeks of Miriam's mental
derangement had grown deep lines on David's
face and sprinkled his temples generously with
gray ; but those weeks, thank God 1 were past and
for the space of a month she had been slowly re-
gaining her strength both of mind and body. Her
first question, as her mind was clearing, was to see
her baby she did not know it was dead.
" Is the baby all right ? " she asked. " I hope it
is a boy ; David so wanted a boy." Her eyes
searched the nurse's face.
" Yes, dear Mrs. Baldwin, your baby is a boy,"
answered the nurse.
" Oh, I am so glad."
" You are not at all strong yet and you must
not talk any more now," added the nurse.
"But you will let me have just one look at him,
nurse, just one look at my dear, dear baby, won't
you, before I go to sleep again ? "
285
286 THE MINISTRY OF
" Dear Mrs. Baldwin, I would like to bring him
to you but he ought not to be disturbed just
now."
" Of course. If he's asleep I can wait."
On the next day, however, the cruel words had
to be spoken.
" It's a boy, David; aren't you glad?" Miriam
said looking into the eyes of her husband, her
mind quite clear again. " But I haven't seen him.
You will show him to me, won't you, dear?"
For an answer David stooped and kissed her
cheek. A tear escaped him and fell upon her fore-
head. Miriam's eyes searched his own.
" Why don't you speak, dear ; is anything the
matter? Isn't the baby all right? Is he de-
formed ? Is that why no one will show him to
me? Why, David, I'll love him just the same.
I'll love him even more. Please let me see him
if only for one little minute," she pleaded.
" Miriam, dearest sweetheart, our baby is not
deformed."
"Oh, I am so thankful." The anxious look
faded away. " Now you will bring the dear little
fellow to his mother who loves him so ? Bless his
heart, he must be getting hungry."
" Miriam, dearest, I cannot bring him to you."
"Why?" she cried.
David buried his face in his hands, unable to
speak, the great lump in his throat making utter-
ance impossible.
" David, dear, I know what you would say to
DAVID BALDWIN 287
me : our baby is dead ? " Though she meant it
for a statement, the question was in her voice.
David managed to say, "Yes "
44 Dead? My God ! My baby dead 1 " A mer-
ciful unconsciousness stole over her, robbing the
hour of further anguish.
The direful consequences following Mr. Brand's
outbreak at church that Sunday morning had
brought down upon him such severe criticism that
he was forced to take refuge in silence and inac-
tion. Among others, Mrs. Strong and Mrs. Wood
called on him and begged that he cease his oppo-
sition to their pastor's work.
" You older members have had your day 1 " ex-
claimed Mrs. Strong, as they were taking their
leave. " Why attempt to mould the religious life
of the younger generation after the pattern of a
former one ? There are any number of the younger
people who are hungering for just the kind of
preaching our pastor has been giving us. Why
not let us have it ? "
" Yes," continued Mrs. Wood, " it is only nat-
ural for Mr. Baldwin to be in sympathy with the
newer thought, since he is a young man, educated
thirty years after you were, and during this time
great advances have been made along all lines of
thought. Mr. Baldwin's preaching has been very
helpful to me, Mr. Brand. But you and Mr. Driver
are making it very hard for him."
"Think how that poor woman has suffered,
too ! " added Mrs. Strong. " How can you men
288 THE MINISTRY OF
continue your persecutions with all of that on your
consciences ! Dear Brother Brand, you will not
oppose Mr. Baldwin any further, will you ? "
" See how the congregations are building up ! "
continued Mrs. Wood. " Dr. James comes every
Sunday. He told me the other day that he was
very much pleased with Mr. Baldwin's sermons.
That should count for a great deal, I think. Dr.
James is one of the best educated men in the
city."
" But education doesn't make him sound in his
religious thinking ! " exclaimed Brand impatiently.
" Do not think," he went on reverting to the former
topic, " that I have not suffered enough over this
matter already. God knows I have ! But can I
sit still, I who know what the denomination stands
for, while our beliefs are undermined in the very
pulpit set for their defense ? I assure you, if Mr.
Baldwin will preach the doctrines of the denomi-
nation, no one could be a more zealous supporter
of him than I would most gladly become."
Thus the interview ended.
" Why can't he see that the world has grown
away from him ! " exclaimed Mrs. Strong while
they were waiting on the corner for a car. " He
is just where he was thirty years ago."
It soon became evident to Mr. Brand that Bald-
win was growing on the community more rapidly
than ever, gathering about him a strong following
which might become dangerous any day to his
own long established position of leadership. The
DAVID BALDWIN 289
summer vacation would soon end and the students
would be back. Baldwin would then be more
popular than ever. If anything was ever going
to be done, it should be done at once.
Mr. Brand had a talk with Deacon Long. It
was soon the deacon's opinion also that something
should be done.
" Hadn't we better talk this over with Driver
before we formulate any definite plans? " asked
the deacon.
" But Driver is usually so obstinate ; he nearly
always opposes what the rest of us want."
" I know it. As I was saying to my wife not
long ago, he was born that way it's a part of our
fallen depravity. We shouldn't be too hard on
him. He can't help it. And if we don't get him
on our side at the start, he will surely be opposed
to everything we try to do."
" I believe there's something in what you say,
deacon."
" Oh, I know Driver like a book. I never have
any trouble with him."
" Come to think about it, deacon, I guess that's
so. How do you manage it ? "
" Oh, I learned how to get along with Driver
years and years ago, soon after I joined the church.
I found out that the only way to keep him from
opposing what I wanted done was to get him in it
at the very start, and get him to thinking it was
all right. But if I couldn't get Driver to thinking
the plan was his'n, I've learned that the best thing
200 THE MINISTRY OF
to do is to give it up yes, sir, every time. Oh, I
can get along with Driver ; I never have any dif-
ficulty with him. It's you and him that upset the
church so often."
" But he is so obstinate ! And you know, dea-
con, you're always on my side."
" Of course he's obstinate. Most people are.
That's why they have to be managed. As I was
saying to my wife, the reason why any two peo-
ple don't get along, nine times outer ten, is be-
cause both of them want their own way. This
holds in church work and in matrimony and I
guess in other things, too. Now if we manage
Driver just right, he'll join us ; if we don't, he'll
oppose us as certain as his name is Amos Driver."
" I declare, deacon, you have given me some
pointers. Of course I've always known that if
there was a man in the church who could get
Driver to do a thing, you were that man ; but I
never stopped to ask the reason for it. Something
must be done soon. Our church will be com-
pletely swamped if we don't. These new doctrines
will destroy any church unless they are checked.
Just look at the First Church in St. Thomas ; every-
body knows what the heresies of modern thought
have done for that church. While claiming to be
a regular church of the denomination the members
are wholly given over to this damnable new
theology! Why, they hold scarcely one of the
distinctive beliefs of the denomination. And if we
don't bring matters to a climax here before another
DAVID BALDWIN 291
year rolls by, we will be in practically the same fix :
those of us who are loyal to the truth will have to
step down and out or keep still."
" Yes, as I was saying to my " began Dea-
con Long, but Brand interrupted him, saying that
he must be going. Before leaving, it was agreed
that they should call on Driver that evening.
" I suspect you have come to see me rather than
the rest of my family," said Driver, conducting
them into the library which he used both as a den
and an office. "The young people have some
sort of a gathering here to-night ; but we won't
be disturbed in here. Have a cigar, deacon ;
Brand I know doesn't smoke. What 1 you don't
smoke either, Deacon Long ? Well 1 well ! " For
forty years Driver had been offering the deacon
cigars and professing astonishment when they
were refused.
With more skill on the part of the deacon than
Brand had ever given him credit for possessing,
Driver was led to join them in writing a letter to
their pastor.
" Yet I tell you I have little heart for this busi-
ness. Gad 1 as if I haven't already suffered all
that my seventy years can stand 1 "
" Certainly you have. And so have we all.
We've all suffered. And why ? Because our
pastor will not conform to the usages and customs
of the denomination. He is to blame. As I was
saying to my wife he has brought this upon us
292 THE MINISTRY OF
and upon himself. If only he would preach sound
doctrines "
" I tell you I find no fault with his preaching 1 "
interrupted Driver savagely. "If he would only
conform to the usages of this church, and of the
denomination, I'd find no fault whatever with
him."
" But he don't conform to the denominational
practices. Remember that ritual 1" urged the
deacon.
" But with his wife in the condition she is, I have
little heart for writing this letter. We should go
very careful. God knows I don't want to cause
that woman any further suffering."
" Of course, we would all be glad if nothing
further had to be done," added Brand in his
suavest tone. " I for one would give a neat little
sum any day if I could wash my hands of the
whole affair. But can we do it ? As members of
this church, can we do it?"
" In conducting the services, Mr. Baldwin has
evaded the issue we raised some time ago," added
the deacon. " He does not conform to the es-
tablished customs of the church ; he does not
preach sound doctrines ; he "
"I repeat, deacon, I find no fault with Mr.
Baldwin's doctrines ! " roared Driver, getting up
and walking impatiently about the room. The
other two men wisely sat still. "The central
thing of any organization is its customs, its
practices. These, being handed down from age
DAVID BALDWIN 293
to age become hallowed with sacred memories,
become dear to us like the portraits of our an-
cestors. I cherish these customs and practices
of the church in which I was reared. What dear
associations cling to them ! They bind me to the
past. It's sacrilege to smash such precious heir-
looms."
" But that's just what Mr. Baldwin set out to do
when he began using that ritual ! "
" I know it, deacon. And if I hadn't entered a
protest, robes and candles and incense would have
doubtless followed by this time." ,
"We are all indebted to you; as I was saying
to my "
" If there is anything under God's heavens I do
detest," said Driver, sitting down at his desk
again, " it is a surpliced minister. It's nonsense !
I'm hostile to it ! "
" But we came pretty near having one in our
own church. The rest of us look to you to take
the lead in such matters. And this letter will be
right along that line. It may save us from further
trouble, from other innovations that might be in-
troduced at any moment, if we don't write this
letter."
" Well," said Driver taking up his pen again,
" if I thought we could keep Mr. Baldwin from
making further transgressions on the customs of
this church, I'm ready to join in writing him a
note. But I still insist that we must be care-
ful."
294 THE MINISTRY OF
" Yes, we must be careful," repeated the deacon.
" We all agree to that."
" And we must not put anything in the letter
calculated to disturb or upset him."
" Certainly, nothing calculated to upset him."
" For I will not be a party to the doing of any-
thing that's going to bring any more suffering to
that poor woman. Understand ? " .
" Of course. None of us would think for a
moment of doing such a thing."
Driver glared fiercely at the two men sitting
near him.
" I have little heart for this matter," said he,
dipping his pen again in the ink. He sat looking
intently at the sheet of paper before him ; but he
wrote no word. Brand remained seated. The
deacon arose and stood near the back of Driver's
chair. Brand wisely kept silent. The wrong
word at this moment would spoil everything.
Driver placed a blotter under his hand, but the
pen was held above the paper. Anxiety was
written all over the deacon's face. His hands
worked nervously, rubbing one over the other.
" As I was saying to my wife," began Deacon
Long, " the doctrines of the denomination are no
longer being preached from our pulpit. Why, I
have in my note-book here page after page of our
pastor's unsound utterances ; but "
" Unsound your grandmother ! I tell you I
find no fault with his doctrines," snapped Driver
savagely.
DAVID BALDWIN 295
" Of course," assented Deacon Long. "As I
was going on to say his unsound utterances are
bad enough, but we could stand them if that was
all. But it ain't. He does worse than merely
preaching unsound doctrine, as I was saying to
my wife just yesterday. He could be endured if
he did nothing but that ; but he goes further we
all know he goes further. And where would our
church be to-day if he hadn't been checked?
Candles and incense, as Brother Driver has said,
would soon have followed that liturgy."
" And a surplice," added Brand.
"Yes, and a surplice," repeated Deacon Long.
" Who knows what changes he'll introduce next ?
I for one can't stand any more changes. They up-
set me," watching closely the side of Driver's face.
" No man of our age can stand them."
Driver dipped his pen in the ink again.
"A few words from us just now may save
trouble later ; and of course none of us want any
more trouble we have all suffered enough, God
knows," repeated the deacon, rubbing his hands.
" If I could know it wouldn't disturb that poor
woman," said Driver, meditatively, as he re-
arranged the blotter under his hand.
" When I was a pastor, " said Brand, quietly, " I
frequently received letters that I never showed to
my wife."
" It's a blamed pity, Brand, you are not a pastor
somewhere now."
" Yes, I suppose it is."
296 THE MINISTRY OF
" That poor woman wouldn't be where she is to-
night if you "
" I guess you had your share in it ! " retorted
Brand.
"Well, I guess I did," acknowledged Driver.
" I guess we have all had our hand in it even the
deacon, here. Now one thing I'm hostile to : I
will not be a party to bringing any more trouble to
that sick woman. God Almighty knows I've suf-
fered enough ! And if a letter from us will do any
good in keeping Mr. Baldwin as pastor of this
church where he belongs "
" Of course it will do good," said the deacon,
still unconsciously rubbing his hands as Driver
dipped his pen into the ink-well again and began
to write.
Deacon Long had developed a sportsman's
relish in hunting out unsound spots in his pastor's
theology. Every Sunday morning as he set out
for church, armed with pencil and note-book, his
mental attitude was scarcely that of a devout wor-
shiper ; rather it was that of a sportsman. Any-
thing in his pastor's sermons dressed in unfamiliar
garb, any truth delivered with new emphasis, or
anything different from what he had been accus-
tomed to hearing aroused the deacon not unlike
the call of quail, the chatter of squirrels, and the
drumming of partridge arouse other sportsmen
after other game.
Now, as the deacon stood behind Driver's
chair, watching the pen as it began to leave dark
DAVID BALDWIN 297
traces on the white paper, his eyes glowed with
keen satisfaction which was further expressed as he
unconsciously rubbed one hand caressingly over
the other. Surely he was stalking big game
now !
Brand's thoughts were different. He was an in-
tense religious partisan, strong willed, and exceed-
ingly narrow, having no use for any one holding
religious opinions different from his own. To him
religion meant adherence to certain creedal state-
ments. He tolerated other church organizations
only because the spirit of the age compelled him
to do so. Had he lived in the Middle Age he
would have made a zealous inquisitor-general.
To Brand, his denomination was the bearer of
the ark of the covenant in this new age ; its doc-
trines were drawn from the pure Word of God.
In the acceptance of these doctrines was salva-
tion ; without them well, God's mercy was the only
source of refuge for those Christians held in the
bondage of error outside of his denominational
fold. Doctrine was everything ; character, noth-
ing. A good character was a snare of the Evil
One, if the person's beliefs were wrong.
With intense interest he, too, watched Driver's
pen as it began to obey the writer's will, quietly
exulting in the consciousness that these two men,
Driver and the deacon as well, were carrying out
his will rather than their own. He had sown
the seeds of suspicion in the deacon's mind and
was grimly pleased with the crop these suspicions
298 THE MINISTRY OF
had produced. He had primed the deacon as to-
gether they had planned to get Driver to join in
writing this letter to Mr. Baldwin. Silently, con-
scious of his power, Brand watched the man at the
desk.
Brand cared little what words that pen was
writing, so long as the letter served his purpose
which was to bring matters to a climax.
Sitting before his study desk on the following
evening, David Baldwin was face to face with one
of the gravest problems of a minister's life. The
letter, honestly intended by the one who penned it,
to contain nothing to disturb him, had in truth, as
Brand knew it would, brought matters to a
climax.
In the letter were expressed deep regrets for the
sad experiences of the recent past ; warm acknowl-
edgment of the pastor's scholarship and ability ;
entire satisfaction with him and his work save in
one respect.
" We write to assure you," the letter concluded,
" of our most cordial and hearty support, if you will
conform to the usages of the denomination and
preach Scriptural doctrines, the beliefs commonly
accepted in our denomination." The last clause
was written in as a correction.
" As a minister of the denomination," the letter
went on, " this should not be hard for you to do,
nor do we think we are asking anything strange
or unreasonable in making this request. Your
DAVID BALDWIN 299
sermons and your conformity to the established
customs of our church will be sufficient answer to
this unofficial communication."
For hours David Baldwin faced this " unofficial
communication," signed by Amos Driver, Sylvester
Brand, and Jacob Long, without coming to any
satisfactory conclusion. That these three men
could control the situation, he had no doubt, un-
less he should mass his adherents against them,
which would mean a church quarrel and the rend-
ing of the church from top to bottom.
" No, this must not be done," was his thought.
" There must be no church fight. I must either
conform to their demands and be permitted to
stay ; or I must decline to suppress the mes-
sage that burns in my heart and take the conse-
quences."
The consequences ? Ah, yes ; why should he
hesitate to take the consequences ? His thoughts
turned to Miriam lying helpless in her room, in
need of constant care ; he thought of his financial
prospects, should he be forced to resign, of the un-
paid obligations to physician and nurse, and his
inability to meet these on demand ; he thought,
too, of the difficulty a churchless minister nearly
always has in getting another location that
churches always seek men who are serving a
church and look with suspicion on ministers with-
out pastorates. He thought of men who had en-
dured almost everything rather than resign before
getting a call elsewhere.
300 THE MINISTRY OF
In the midst of these meditations, Baldwin re-
membered the words of his jovial friend Hilton,
" The reasons for that kind of a sermon have just
gone up to bed." He had thought Hilton lacking
in spirit, but now that the iron had entered his own
soul, Baldwin felt that he had judged his friend
harshly.
The little clock, whose hands were pointing to
the hour of one, was ticking the minutes away re-
gardless that a human soul was there struggling
with one of the profoundest problems of its exist-
ence whether it would be bound or free ; whether
it would sink into the undifferentiated mass or
maintain its individuality at any cost ; whether for
bread it would render meaningless service, receiv-
ing a hireling's pay for a hireling's work, or, stand-
ing before God alone, perform the service for
which it was born.
Twice David Baldwin decided to proclaim the
message glowing in his own heart, let come what
might. Twice thoughts of Miriam and of his
financial condition caused him to reconsider the
problem. Upon his knees he wrestled with the
subject anew. If his decision touched only him-
self he could have settled it easily. But there was
Miriam 1 In her delicate condition could he do
anything that would bring discomfort to her?
And these men had promised their support if he
would but preach what they wanted to hear !
They had said that it ought not to be hard for him,
a minister of the denomination, to conform to de-
DAVID BALDWIN 301
nominational practices and to preach the beliefs of
the Church.
" O God ! " he cried. " What am I to do ! The
vision of truth thou hast granted unto me how
can I stand before thee and not bear witness to it ?
How can I preach and not give utterance to the
message burning in my heart ? "
Sobs escaped him as he buried his face in his
hands.
" Thou knowest how joyfully I would bear wit-
ness to the heavenly vision, even to the yielding
of life itself, if it touched me alone ; but, O God,
another life, dearer than mine how can I bring
further suffering to her ? I cannot ! O God, save
me from this hour ! "
His bowed frame shook with grief too deep for
words.
" I cannot ! I cannot bring further calamity
upon Miriam," he repeated, after a moment. But
the conflict still raged. " How can I suppress the
message thou hast given me ? " he cried.
" My God 1 " lifting his gaze upward, " I cannot
decide unless thou help me. Oh, clarify my vision
that I may see plainly very plainly, dear heavenly
Father, the path in which I should walk ! "
In the intensity of his struggle, David Baldwin
had been oblivious to the objects about him. In
his upward gaze he did not see the ceiling of the
room it made no impression on his senses, so in-
tent was he in his endeavor to realize the nearness
of the divine presence. But directly in his line of
302 DAVID BALDWIN
vision as he lowered his gaze was a picture of the
Christ ; it held him with a strangely fascinating
power. As David Baldwin looked upon that kneel-
ing figure, into his own soul came a feeling of kin-
ship, born of fellowship in suffering. He remem-
bered that the Christ, too, shrank from drinking his
cup, shrank from the consequences of bearing wit-
ness to his own inner vision of truth.
A full moment Baldwin looked at the Gethsemane
picture, scarcely breathing, as he drank in its silent
message of sympathy. An unwonted peace crept
in and possessed his soul, a peace which fortifies
and strengthens men so strangely, so mysteriously
in their hours of deepest need. Over his face
spread something like a radiance. He, too, would
follow the example of the Christ would drink the
cup placed before him.
XXII
THE last plate had been served and their
Sunday dinner was getting well under
way at the Stewart home. The usual
silence prevailed. All were waiting for the little
mother to give her customary signal. The morn-
ing sermon had provided an interesting topic for
discussion, but not a word concerning the pastor's
discourse had any member of the household ut-
tered. The mother who could not attend church
must hear what each one had to say.
" And what did the minister preach about this
morning ? "
Seven active brains and as many vocal organs
were held in restraint while the father made his
reply.
" He preached on temptation, mother, and a very
good sermon it was."
There was silence for about a quarter of a
minute.
" How did Mr. Baldwin treat his subject ? Was
he logical ? "
" His points seemed well arranged, mother, very
well arranged."
After having waited for their father to reply to
the first two or three questions, as was their cus-
tom, then the flood-gate opened and the seven
young people poured forth their observations on
303
304 THE MINISTRY OF
the pastor's morning sermon. Only years of train-
ing could enable one to follow what each speaker
was saying ; but Mrs. Stewart had had the train-
ing.
" But Mr. Baldwin's last point," observed Mary
after several minutes of discussion had elapsed, " I
didn't quite catch his meaning."
" About the Church leading her ministers into
temptation?"
" Yes."
"Why, I thought he was very clear on that
point. It was this way, mother," said Tom ; " Mr.
Baldwin said that the Church was offering a very
subtle temptation to her ministers "
" The Church tempting her ministers ? "
" Yes, tempting them to suppress their message ;
he "
" Oh, he was very eloquent, mother ! "
" You should have heard him ! He never be-
fore spoke with such earnestness."
" He said," continued Tom edging in his re-
mark, "that it was only natural for a minister
to desire to keep in sympathetic touch with the
pillars of his church, and to do this he was some-
times tempted "
"To preach what the people wanted to
hear "
" Rather than the message of his own heart."
"That powerful motives were brought to
bear upon a minister sometimes owing to his
family "
DAVID BALDWIN 305
" Because he had no other support."
" He told of a certain instance "
" Of a minister whose reasons had gone to
bed," interposed Elizabeth.
The rest laughed.
" But he did say it," persisted Elizabeth. " I
heard him."
" But what did he mean, dear ? " asked Mrs.
Stewart.
"Oh, I didn't understand just what he did
mean. I never understand all that a minister
says."
" I think it was this way, mother ; this minister
to whom Mr. Baldwin referred preached a sermon
which did not represent his own views, and a
former classmate visiting him asked why he
did it."
" Asked how he could preach that kind of a
sermon."
" Believing as he did."
"And this minister replied that his reasons
had just gone up to bed."
" His wife and child, mother, you see, had
just gone up-stairs to bed."
" Having a family to support he was preach-
ing what the pillars of his church demanded of
him rather than the message of his own heart."
" The pillars were conservative and insisted
on the minister preaching the creed of a previous
generation."
" The minister was a man of modern ideas."
306 THE MINISTRY OF
" The Church tempted him."
" The pillars showed themselves unfriendly to
modern interpretations of life."
" And to retain his pulpit he gave them the
type of sermon which would permit him to remain
their pastor."
" Mr. Baldwin said that the situation was by
no means an uncommon one the Church tempt-
ing her younger ministers to repeat a message
they had outgrown."
" Indeed, mother, Mr. Baldwin was very
eloquent this morning. He spoke with the ear-
nestness, the impressiveness of a prophet."
" Like an Isaiah or a Savonarola."
" Indeed, mother, you missed a rare treat ! "
" But Savonarola wasn't a prophet, was he,
mother?" objected Elizabeth. "He lived several
centuries after Bible times."
" Certainly, dear, he lived after Bible times,
as you call it," answered Mrs. Stewart. "What
Tom means is that any man in any age who pro-
claims a high imperious message, speaking in the
name of the deity is a prophet. In this sense
prophets are not confined to Bible times nor to
the Hebrew people. Is this what you meant,
Tom?"
"Yes, mother. And I'm so glad to find that
Mr. Baldwin holds the same view. We were dis-
cussing the subject the other evening while out
fishing. He said that one of the fundamental
differences between the older and the newer re-
DAVID BALDWIN 307
ligious thought was right here ; that the advocates
of the new theology hold that God is in as close
and as vital contact with humanity to-day as ever ;
that to men of every age, qualified to interpret
spiritual truths, there came visions of truth, mes-
sages from above, so possessing the recipients as
to give them no rest until they spoke forth what
was stirring in their own hearts. Mr. Baldwin
says that when a man has accepted this conception
of God's relationship to his world that God is as
near to mankind now as in the time of Abraham
or Moses all the other positions of the new
theology will follow as a matter of course."
" I can't see what Mr. Baldwin means by the
new theology," said Mary. " Mother, let me refill
your cup. Of course God is in his world now as
much as he ever was. Don't all people believe
that ? What is this new theology, Tom ? I for
one do not understand what you mean by
* modern religious thought.' "
" Let's ask Mr. Baldwin to give us private les-
sons also. Why should Tom be the only member
of the Stewart family so highly favored ? " said
Cora.
"Just the thing! Let's invite him over some
evening and the whole Stewart family can sit at
his feet at the same time."
"A capital idea! There are few men with
whom I find more pleasure and profit in private
conversation than with Mr. Baldwin. But, mother,
the children have strayed a little way from the
308 THE MINISTRY OF
morning discourse. There was one other thought,
mother, which struck me in anew light. Whether
it be new theology or not I do not know. It was
this : Mr. Baldwin said that Jesus himself had to
meet this temptation that he was tempted to
suppress his message ; that this is the meaning of
the Gethsemane struggle. Should he bear wit-
ness to his larger, truer conceptions of life and
truth and endure the consequences or should he
suppress his message and conform to the dom-
inant opinion of his day, thus saving himself from
the heresy trial and its certain ignominious conse-
quences which he knew would follow ? This in-
terpretation of the struggle in the Garden of
Gethsemane was new to me."
" How does it fit in with your own thoughts,
Ephraim ? "
" I confess, mother, that I had no clear or well
defined ideas on what Gethsemane really did
mean. I suppose there lingered in my mind
something of the traditional view that Jesus was
shrinking from the sacrifice which he was about to
make for the sins of the world, the old Calvinistic
view of Christ's sufferings being an equivalent for
the punishment of the redeemed, or something of
that sort. But I must say," continued Mr. Stewart,
" that Mr. Baldwin's interpretation has given me
something to think about."
" Indeed, all of his sermons do that."
" Mr. Baldwin is evidently probing some of the
profound experiences of life," said Mrs. Stewart, as
DAVID BALDWIN 309
Mary rose to bring on the dessert. " But, Ephraim,
can a man speak as he did to-day without having
gone into the depth of a similar conflict himself ?
My word for it, no man rises to such utterances
and such insight save through experience."
" You don't mean, mother, that he has been
tempted to suppress his message?"
"What else? Could Mr. Baldwin have
preached that sermon in the way he did, other-
wise?"
All eyes were fixed on Mrs. Stewart as she
made this statement.
" You're right, mother. The more I think of it
the more I am sure you're right. That sermon, no
man could have preached it who had not himself
been in Gethsemane ! "
" What I'd like to know is what part has Mr.
Brand played in the affair?"
" But the discourse was wholly impersonal."
" Yes, not a word, not even an allusion to any
experience of his own. Such a thought didn't
even occur to me till mother suggested it."
" Nor to me either."
" Well, one thing is certain. We'll hear more
of this. If Mr. Brand insists on hearing sermons
loaded with medieval conceptions of life, let him
preach them to himself. He's capable of produc-
ing such discourses. But for one, I'm not going
to sit idly by and let him drive Mr. Baldwin from
the pulpit of our church."
" Good for you, Tom ! " cried Cora. " We need
310 THE MINISTRY OF
a little variety in our business meetings. Driver
and Brand have become monotonous. Surely
Brand and Stewart would make an attractive
combination. I predict a full house at the open-
ing performance."
" And we'll stand by you, Tom ; all we need is
a leader," said Robert. " Mr. Brand has consid-
erable influence in the church. But there's no
sense in his dictating what Mr. Baldwin shall
preach."
" But of course we don't know with certainty
whether he has interfered or not."
" I wish I was as certain of a million."
" Well, what can we do ? Tom, you've been ap-
pointed captain or general, whichever you wish.
The campaign is in your hands."
" I've been thinking," responded Tom, as they
rose from the table, "I've been thinking for some
time about a Monday evening class for young
people, so that Mr. Baldwin might come into
closer contact with more of the young men and
women of our congregation, who know him only
through his morning or evening sermons. In
such a class as I have in mind he could speak
more freely than he could in the pulpit, and, if I
am not mistaken, win a closer personal follow-
ing."
"Talk about strategy ! Under the cover of this
class or club you would build up a personal fol-
lowing to checkmate Mr. Brand and his ad-
herents?"
DAVID BALDWIN 311
"Certainly. Without organization very little
could be accomplished."
" But will Mr. Baldwin consent ? "
" I think so. More than once I have heard him
express a desire for something of this kind where
he could ask questions find out what the young
people were thinking about where he could help
any one who might be struggling with some prob-
lem concerning religious beliefs. Of course we
must not let him know that we are forming this
organization for any other purpose."
" Of course not."
" And we must get under motion as soon as
possible."
" By next week, if nothing happens."
The reply Mr. Brand received in his pastor's
sermons had upon him the effect of a challenge.
Having persuaded himself of his magnanimity in
offering Mr. Baldwin a chance to turn from the er-
ror of his way, a chance flatly refused, Mr. Brand
told himself again and again while driving from
his home to his office, what else could he who
knew what his beloved church stood for, do but
begin to devise plans for forcing Bald win's resigna-
tion?
During the frequent intervals between pastor-
ates, Mr. Brand usually supplied the pulpit when
there was no candidate to preach ; if a marriage
or a funeral had to be looked after, while the
church was without a pastor, Mr. Brand was on
312 THE MINISTRY OF
hand to officiate ; if any member of the congre-
gation became ill, Mr. Brand always called to ex-
press his sympathy, and if opportunity permitted
he would read some verses of Scripture and offer
a short prayer before leaving the home. It was
not strange, therefore, that many of the more con-
servative members of the church, unaccustomed to
independent thinking on religious subjects, should
look up to Mr. Brand and perhaps unconsciously
follow his leadership. Without seeming to do so,
it was not difficult for him to sow seeds of suspi-
cion broadcast among this element in the church.
A word here, a question there, and the pastor's
orthodoxy was brought under suspicion.
Mr. Brand had, as we know, not been free from
questioning the pastor's orthodoxy before ; now,
however, he was persistent and untiring in his ef-
forts to bring Mr. Baldwin into disfavor with the
people. With skill he selected certain members of
the congregation whom he could most easily in-
oculate with his suspicions.
After a conversation with Mr. Brand, Mrs.
Goodwin and Mrs. North happened to meet a few
blocks from the church on their way to the mid-
week service.
." And how did you like the sermon last Sun-
day ? A very helpful discourse, wasn't it ? " said
Mrs. North, after they had proceeded a half a
block.
" Helpful ? Well, ye-as, in a way ; but I can't
say that I approve of all that he said."
DAVID BALDWIN 313
" Mr. Baldwin spoke with great earnestness,
didn't you think ? "
" Ye- as ; but earnestness is a snare and a delu-
sion if what the preacher says is unsound."
" Unsound ? Why, what have you heard ? I
didn't detect anything, did you ? "
" Well, at first I wasn't altogether certain
whether I agreed with all he said or not."
" I I felt a little that way, too," admitted Mrs.
North.
" Last evening Mr. and Mrs. Brand were in,
and incidentally we got to talking about the
pastor's discourse. Mr. Brand, you know he's had
training in theology, he gave me to understand
that the sermon Sunday morning was very un-
sound."
" You don't say ! "
" Yes. And he ought to know."
" Of course, he ought to know, having been a
pastor himself."
" It's fortunate we have Mr. Brand to point these
things out to us."
" It certainly is for I never dreamed of that ser-
mon being unsound."
Only Deacon Nelson was in the lecture-room
as the two ladies entered. After an exchange of
the usual greetings, the deacon said,
" A fine sermon we had Sunday morning !
Such a discourse refreshes the soul like the dews
of Lebanon the grass on the hillside."
" Ye-as, but "
314 THE MINISTRY OF
" You don't mean, Deacon Nelson, you were
able to agree with the doctrines of that discourse,
do you ? " interrupted Mrs. North, a trifle eager to
display her power of discrimination.
" Agree with its doctrines ? To what do you
refer, Sister North ?"
" I er ah Sister Goodwin here can express
it perhaps better than I can. But the sermon
Sunday morning was positively unsound. 'Tis a
great pity ! Mr. Baldwin's such a gifted man ! "
" You say that the sermon was unsound," tak-
ing a seat near the two ladies so that they could
continue their conversation while the others were
coming in ; " it may be that you're right. I'm
not trained in such matters, as you know. In
what points was the discourse unsound?"
Mrs. North waited for Mrs. Goodwin to answer.
"Why, it was unsound all the way through,
Deacon Nelson. When a sermon is unsound, it's
unsound, isn't it ? "
" But that's just what I wanter git at. I don't
understand what some of the brethren means when
they say a sermon's unsound. This is a new word
to me leastwise when applied to sermons. I'm
used to calling a sermon powerful or lacking in
power or something of that sort. Now, since I've
been hearing the word occasionally I've been
trying to find out what it means Sister North
just said that the sermon Sunday morning was
unsound. Not having any early eddycation, I've
been a learnin' all my life. Now, I'd like to know
DAVID BALDWIN 315
the meanin' of unsound when you're talking of a
sermon."
Mrs. North again looked at Mrs. Goodwin and
waited for her to reply. Mrs. Goodwin fidgeted in
her chair. Deacon Nelson was a devout, simple-
hearted man whom every one held in high esteem
for his childlike spirit, his earnest piety. To
ignore his question was impossible.
" Unsound? Why unsound, Deacon Nelson,
when applied to a sermon means why it means
that the sermon is is unorthodox, yes unorthodox.
Yes, I don't think I can make it any clearer than
that. Of course every one knows what's meant
by a sermon's being unorthodox."
" But that also is a new word in my vo-ca-bu-
lery, Sister Goodwin. I've often wanted to ask
lately the meanin' of that word. Deacon Long
used it while talking with me the other day."
Mrs. Goodwin rose from her chair.
" Pardon me ! " she exclaimed. " I see Mrs.
Marshall coming in the side door. I must speak
with her about same committee- work."
Deacon Nelson turned to Mrs. North.
" As I understand it, Deacon Nelson, a sermon
is orthodox when here comes Mr. Strong. He
can express it better than I can. We were talk-
ing, Mr. Strong, about the exact meaning of the
word orthodox. What is your opinion? Of
course everybody has a general idea of the mean-
ing of the term ; but what we were after is its
exact meaning. Now what is your opinion ? "
316 DAVID BALDWIN
" My opinion ? Well I think the * exact mean-
ing of the term ' is something like this. A sermon
is orthodox when it agrees with my own beliefs
and opinions ; it's unorthodox when it doesn't."
Mr. Strong suppressed a laugh as he passed on
to his usual seat on the other side of the room.
" That's it, Deacon Nelson ; a sermon is ortho-
dox when it agrees with what one believes."
The look of perplexity on the good old man's
face showed that he was not satisfied. As he was
about to venture another question, the pastor
entered the lecture room and conversation ceased.
Mrs. North gave a sigh of relief and joined heart-
ily in the opening hymn.
XXIII
" T WAS on my way down to see you," said
Brand, halting his horse as he met Baldwin
-*- on the street. " No, it's not necessary to
go back. Just a word about the funeral . of
Brother Pratt's little girl."
Baldwin stepped to the edge of the curb as
Brand drove in a little nearer.
" I was expecting to hear that the child was
dead. When I was in to see her last evening, she
was patiently awaiting her release. Such a pa-
tient, brave little soul ! I'm glad for her sake that
the end has come."
" Yes," assented Brand. " I was there when she
passed over to the other side," hesitating a mo-
ment. Baldwin waited for him to proceed. " The
family have requested me," he continued, lifting
his eyes to Baldwin's face, " they've requested me
to take charge of the funeral."
A blow in the face could not have surprised
Baldwin more. Instantly, he felt a great anguish
settle over his spirit. Brand, noting the effect of
his thrust, with a note of triumph in his voice,
went on.
" But the family wanted me to ask you to be
present and take some part in the service, say, the
prayer before the address."
" If they've asked you to take charge of the
317
318 THE MINISTRY OF
service," replied Baldwin stiffly, in spite of his
efforts at self-control, " it will scarcely be necessary
for me to be there."
" Oh, well, as you like. Shall I tell them that
other demands on your time, other pressing duties
interfere?" the note of triumph was now almost if
not quite a taunt.
Baldwin's eyes flashed as he met squarely the
other's shifting gaze.
" A pastor, Mr. Brand, as you should know, as
you do know very well, is never too busy, he never
has other duties so pressing that he cannot serve
the members of his church when the shadow of
death has fallen on the threshold of any home.
Good-morning." Baldwin, turning abruptly on
his heel, walked rapidly up the street.
Under ordinary circumstances this incident
might have very little significance ; but the rela-
tions between the two men were such that Baldwin
could not fail to perceive the professional indignity
Brand had intended.
" The scheme will work all right," was Brand's
thought as he watched the retreating figure. " No
man with his temperament will stand such treat-
ment long."
Brand was right. Some men could endure such
treatment. But to David Baldwin it was worse
than torture on the rack. The incident stuck in
his mind, he couldn't dismiss it. His thoughts
clustered about it night after night as he spent
hours vainly courting sleep. His digestion suf-
DAVID BALDWIN 319
fered. It was into the second week before Bald-
win was himself again, before the wound his spirit
had suffered was healed.
His peace of mind, however, was of short dura-
tion. The thrust came this time by way of Deacon
Long, the church treasurer.
" We're some twenty dollars short this month,"
complained the deacon, handing the envelope to
Mr. Baldwin.
" How is this ? " asked Baldwin. " I understood
that the subscriptions were ample to meet all our
financial needs."
" So they are. The subscriptions are sufficient.
But some of the members are refusing to meet
what they subscribed at the first of the year."
" For what reason ? " asked Baldwin bluntly,
knowing very well what the deacon wanted to say.
" For what reason do some of the members refuse
to meet their subscriptions ? If they are out of
work or have met with financial reverses, we must
take these things into consideration."
" But they are not out of work. They could pay
easily enough if they wanted to. As I was saying
to my wife, all we need is "
" But why, then, do they not meet their sub-
scription?" interrupted Baldwin.
"Because," retorted Deacon Long, nervously
fingering his hat, " because they're tired of paying
any longer for what they don't get. Sister Good-
win said to me, says she, * I won't pay any more
till there's a change. We're not hearing the gos-
320 THE MINISTRY OF
pel.' Them's her words. And Sister North has
stopped her subscription also. She said to me,
says she, ' I have nothing agin Mr. Baldwin, but
his sermons are unsound.' Them's her words as
I reckoleck them. And there're others feeling the
same way. We're short twenty dollars this month
and the Lord only knows where we'd be if Brother
Brand and some others who don't let such matters
interfere with their paying if they should stop
paying too we'd have to close up, I guess. But
as I was saying to my "
"You have made the situation quite clear,
Deacon Long. May I ask one question ? This is
not the first time I have heard it said that I was not
preaching the gospel. I greatly desire, Deacon
Long, to know what is meant by that statement.
In what respects have I not been preaching the
gospel ? " Baldwin's tone was cordial, almost con-
fidential, inviting a friendly reply to his question.
" The one and sole ambition of my life," he con-
tinued earnestly, " is to preach the gospel. Please
make it plain to me, Deacon Long, wherein I have
not been preaching the gospel."
The deacon was plainly embarrassed.
"Well, er ah," stammered the deacon, "there
has been more or less of a feeling from the first
that your sermons were ah er at times un-
sound."
"Yes, I've heard that, too, before. May we let
that pass ? Let us try to get at the meaning of
that other statement, about my not preaching the
DAVID BALDWIN 321
gospel. Please give me your opinion. What did
Mrs. Goodwin mean ? What would you mean by
that expression ? "
" Why ah ah any one knows what preach-
ing the gospel means."
"And to the best of my knowledge /have been
preaching the gospel, Deacon Long. Not for
one minute have I knowingly preached anything
else."
" But you you don't believe in the divinity of
Christ, do you ? How can one preach the gospel
if he don't believe in the divinity of Christ?"
" Deacon Long, I believe in the divinity of
Christ just as firmly as you do. With all my
heart I accept the divinity of Christ."
"Why, er er, I er ah, Brother Brand was
a-saying that you denied the divinity of Christ.
Of course I never heard you say much about it
one way or the other. All I know is what he told
me."
The deacon was beginning to perspire.
"Mr. Brand has drawn an unwarranted conclu-
sion from a conversation we had one day," replied
Baldwin, in an even tone. " I find he is apt to do
that sometimes. It is exceedingly easy to mis-
interpret the beliefs of those who do not agree
with us."
" But you do not accept the Immaculate Con-
ception of the Virgin Birth, do you?" said the
deacon, mixing up theological terms with his usual
lack of discrimination as to their meaning.
322 THE MINISTRY OF
" The Immaculate Conception and the Virgin
Birth are two distinct subjects, Deacon Long. The
dogma of the Immaculate Conception grew up in
the medieval church and was the subject of great
controversy. It means that the Virgin Mary was
born sinless and has therefore only indirect refer-
ence to Christ Do you believe, deacon, that the
Virgin Mary was born sinless ? "
" Why, of course I believe it. I believe what
the Bible teaches from cover to cover. When
once we begin to throw this or that out of the
Bible, as I was saying to my wife, we "
" But the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception
is not taught anywhere in the Bible, Deacon
Long."
" It ain't ! Why ah, where is it taught, then ?
Mebbe you'll be a-saying pretty soon that there
ain't any such doctrine ? "
" Oh, yes, there is. The doctrine is one of the
accepted dogmas in the Catholic church. The
term Immaculate Conception has of course passed
into general literature. But the doctrine does not
belong to Protestantism at all."
" Not belong to Protestantism ! Do you mean
to tell me that I've been all these years a-holding
a Catholic belief?"
" A doctrine, Deacon Long, if it is true, is none
the worse for being a dogma of the Catholic
church."
" And you say the Immaculate Conception ain't
in the Bible ? " persisted the deacon.
DAVID BALDWIN 323
" Any well informed clergyman will tell you,"
replied Baldwin, " that the idea grew up in the
thought of the middle ages. Indeed, it was not
formally accepted by the Catholic church until the
middle of the nineteenth century. Protestantism
has never, in any of its great bodies, shown a
friendly attitude toward the idea. It may of
course be true. In many respects it is a beautiful
thought that Christ's mother was sinless. Of
course such a thought naturally leads to the wor-
ship of the Virgin. But any religious belief which
satisfies the human soul, helping men and women
to bear the burdens of life, is a boon to humanity.
But as the individual grows his beliefs must grow
with him. So is it with the race."
The deacon, unable to appreciate the meaning
of his pastor's remarks, reverted to his former
question.
" But the birth of Christ Brand told me you
denied the birth of Christ," said he, not a little
confused.
" You mean, I suppose, what is called the Virgin
Birth of Christ," corrected Baldwin.
" Yes, ain't that what I said ? "
" What you meant, probably. This subject, the
Virgin birth of Christ, Deacon Long, is one of the
great topics in present day religious thinking.
Many devout scholars are slowly thinking their way
into it. Books are being written upon it To you
and to the great majority of church people the
problem has not yet arisen. It is to the New
324 THE MINISTRY OF
Testament something like what the creation-
problem was to the Old Testament. But these,
Deacon Long, are questions for the specialist.
We need not concern ourselves overmuch about
them. Creation is that's the great fact. Each
age is bound to explain this fact according to all
the knowledge it possesses. The people thou-
sands of years ago had their explanations, em-
bodying their best thought ; and each succeeding
age has the same right to explain the fact over
again, if the former interpretation seems inade-
quate."
" But that makes the Bible untrue, don't it?" ob-
jected the deacon. " What you say seems all
right if it if it didn't upset our belief in the Bible,
the Word of God. As I was saying to my "
" That all depends, Deacon Long, on what our
attitude is toward the Bible. Here again is an-
other of the great present day problems in religious
thought. Many earnest workers in the intellectual
realm are giving their lives to it. Believe me,
greater problems confront the Christian scholar to-
day than ever before in the history of the church.
Indeed, the Reformation in the time of Erasmus
and Luther was no greater movement than the one
now on. The struggle then as now embodied a
contest between the Old and the New. Fully to
understand these great movements and their bear-
ings on religious beliefs is the task, I might say, of
a lifetime."
Plainly the deacon was mystified. Though he
DAVID BALDWIN 325
understood each separate word, the meaning of it
all could not have been more obscure had
Baldwin spoken to him in an unknown tongue.
One impression, however, had beaten itself in
upon him. The minister's task was not so simple
as it had seemed.
"But why does a minister have to study about
all these things ? What good does it do ? Why
not just preach the gospel which is able to save
to the uttermost ? "
" Every problem of life, Deacon Long, is in some
way related to the gospel, some very closely and
some more remotely. Is it not one of the high
functions of religion to help a man solve his prob-
lems rightly ? How can a minister proclaim the
gospel unless he knows the problems of his age ? "
" But what has that to do with salvation ? " ob-
jected the deacon, edging his way toward the
door. " Ain't it enough to save men's souls and
build 'em up in the faith ? That's what I'd call
preaching .the gospel. All this worldly knowledge,
as I was saying to my wife, says I, it's a snare
and a delusion. Give me the simple gospel.
And there* re many others in the church who feel
jest as I do. We feel, to speak plain, that we're
not a-getting in the sermons which have been
preached in our pulpit during the past year or two,
the simple gospel."
" Deacon Long, do you honestly believe that
the financial condition you have reported to me is
due to a belief among the people that I am not
326 THE MINISTRY OF
preaching the gospel ? " Baldwin's eyes were
kindly but earnestly fixed on the old gentleman's
face.
" Why, ah er, to what else could it be due ? " he
replied evasively, as he was leaving Baldwin's
study.
" The families you've mentioned pay so little that
I thought there must be some other reason for a
large part of the deficiency."
" You question my honesty ! " cried the deacon,
working himself into a rage.
" Not at all, not at all, Deacon Long. No one
questions your honesty. Only I thought that
perhaps you could suggest some additional
reason for the present financial condition, that's all.
Good-morning, Deacon Long, good-morning."
On taking the car at the end of the next block,
Deacon Long was so confused that he did not
notice it was going in the wrong direction until
he had been carried seven blocks out of his way.
" Twist number two ! " commented Baldwin, as
he counted the contents of the envelope which the
deacon had handed him. " There is more than
one way of putting a man on the rack. I be-
gin to wonder just how many twists of the wheel I
shall be able to withstand."
Still he sat looking at the pile of currency, com-
posed of nickels, dimes and quarters in large pro-
fusion, together with half dollars, dollars, and a few
larger bills. For several minutes Baldwin was lost
in meditation.
DAVID BALDWIN 327
" No," was his conclusion, " there is no remedy,
no redress without a church fight, which would
simply wreck the church. I could never stand
that. It would simply kill me. I must seek an-
other pastorate."
But how ? He would write to some of the boys
whom he knew well in the divinity school. Per-
haps they could put him in touch with some
churches about to make a change.
In due time replies came from each of the men
to whom he had written. These letters from half
a dozen ministers scattered in neighboring states
were very similar in their essential feature sorry
to hear he . was thinking of leaving Tioga, still
sorrier that they were unable to suggest his name
to any available church ; but if an opening should
occur within their notice, they would be only too
glad to present his name to the pulpit com-
mittee.
Before the returns were all in from the first half
dozen letters, Baldwin wrote to a dozen more fel-
lows whom he knew not quite so well.
" Surely, something favorable will come from
some of these," was his comment as he dropped
the letters into the office.
Anxiously he awaited results. Two days pass
and two more ; the evening's mail brings two re-
turns. Carlin's letter was very cordial, though
Baldwin had known him only a short time during
his last half-year ; if only he had known a little
sooner that Baldwin was thinking of a change
328 THE MINISTRY OF
there was a good church near him but they had
called a new man only the week before.
" It would have been just the field for a man of
your type. I can understand your problem at
Tioga and you have my sympathy. I know the
men the man you are up against. No need of
saying any more. Be assured I shall keep you in
mind."
Rhodes' reply was almost a duplicate of some
he had already received. For a week answers
kept coming in, and the more they came the lower
David's expectations sank. It seemed that no one
of his clerical friends knew of a vacant pulpit.
Talk about a dearth of ministers 1 Why, where
was the room for a single one more ? Nearly
twenty letters had failed to locate the spot 1
Brand, meanwhile was tireless in his opposition,
and Baldwin was made to feel more keenly the
growing defection when the Fawcett-Brown wed-
ding occurred without his presence Mr. Brand
being invited to officiate.
The Monday evening club, however, was truly
a newly found source of support. He told Miriam
more than once that he did not see how he ever
got along without it.
" We have such good times ! The members
seem so eager for what I am able to give. I
shall always bless Tom Stewart for his sugges-
tion."
" But, dear, I think you ought not to undertake
so much. You are doing altogether too much.
DAVID BALDWIN 329
You do not know what a care-worn look has
settled upon your brow," Miriam kept telling him.
" But now that you are getting at the helm
again, sweetheart, I shall soon be all right. A
man without a wife to look after him is a pretty
poor stick, isn't he? Some of us need so much
looking after, perhaps the old plan of having two
or half a dozen wives wasn't so bad after all."
" But, David, dear, you are working too hard.
You seem well, not like your natural self."
" I I don't sleep as well as I used to," he ad-
mitted, guardedly. "A little indigestion prob-
ably."
" And you have so little relish for your food 1 "
she added with increasing concern.
"But now that you're getting about again,
you'll soon see what an appetite I'll have, sweet-
heart. But you must not worry about me. My
work is a little hard just now. This heat, I sup-
pose, has something to do with it."
" You should take a rest. Why are you not
taking any vacation this summer ? "
"Perhaps we will, dear, a little later. It has
not suited me to do so yet."
Miriam had almost recovered her physical
strength and her mind was clear ; but the phy-
sician had cautioned Baldwin to use the greatest
care in keeping her free from worry, and all
anxiety, all mental stress or strain.
" Anxiety or worry may suddenly undo all that
these weeks have built up. Mrs. Baldwin needs
330 THE MINISTRY OF
absolute freedom from mental strain. In fact, it
is her only hope," said Doctor Wood. " Neither
yourself nor any member of the church must dis-
cuss the affairs of the church in her presence."
So David Baldwin with aching heart continued
to bear alone the burden which he did not dare to
share with his wife. But human hearts like his
are not made to bear burdens alone. The condi-
tion would be so much easier to endure with
Miriam's sympathy.
That night after Miriam had retired, David
wrote five more letters, addressing one to Dr.
Harmon, his favorite professor in the divinity
school, one to the president of his alma mater and
the other three to prominent ministers in the de-
nomination.
" O God ! " he prayed, his head bowed on his
writing table, " direct thou me. Lead me, O God,
for I cannot find my way alone. Let some relief
come to thy servant. Thou, O Lord, knowest that
his need is great."
The conscious need of the human heart has in
all ages brought humanity into closer relations
with deity. Perhaps this is the meaning of the
hard experiences of life who knows ? Is not life
a school ? Was not David Baldwin facing one of
the age-long lessons of the race, that only
through the individual's conscious need is he
brought into closer fellowship with God ? But in
the midst of the lesson its meaning was anything
but clear. But day after day as he poured forth
DAVID BALDWIN 331
his soul in fervent petition for guidance, praying
as he had rarely prayed before, the divine Pres-
ence seemed to him more real. Is spiritual vision
ever raised from lower to higher degree of clear-
ness save through suffering? The question is an
old one. Who is able to answer it ?
But the answers to his letters brought no relief.
Must he resign and enter that class so much
dreaded by his profession that of becoming a
churchless pastor? The dread of the morrow
settled more heavily upon him.
TT
XXIV
HAT there is a meaning in the hard ex-
periences of life, the pain, the sorrow, the
-*- anguish of spirit which comes sooner or
later in some form to all, David Baldwin had more
than once presented in his sermons.
" These experiences are but means of developing
in us a higher quality of spirit," he had said.
It had been easy to utter these words, urg-
ing solace and comfort to others ; but to learn
the lesson himself that quality of spirit comes
through suffering was indeed quite a different
matter. Gradually, however, without relaxing his
efforts to secure another church, Baldwin was
brought into a closer, a more personal knowledge
of many of the spiritual conceptions he had previ-
ously held only as theory. His sermons became
more vital, more human and less scholastic as the
discipline of his own heart clarified his spiritual
vision. Through his own sufferings he was en-
tering into a larger, a more intimate brotherhood
with the common man. The language of books
was being displaced by the language of life.
To Sylvester Brand this deeper note in his
pastor's sermons was but another evidence of Bald-
win's doctrinal unsoundness. Accordingly his op-
position became even more relentless. When the
month closed the financial condition was a little
332
DAVID BALDWIN 333
worse than at the end of the preceding one. Bald-
win made no complaint, knowing that such a move
on his part would precipitate matters that much
sooner. With nothing definite in view, he con-
tinued writing letters to various clergymen in the
denomination, with the hope of securing informa-
tion which might lead to another settlement.
Surely something must open soon. David Bald-
win's extremity drove him into closer fellowship
with God. His greater need held him more fre-
quently and longer in intense communion with
deity.
On the following Sunday morning as Baldwin
poured forth his soul in a remarkable sermon,
Prisoners of the Present being his theme, there
were many persons in his congregation who felt
while under the spell of his utterances that the
preacher was reading and interpreting some of
their own innermost thoughts.
" It was a most searching sermon, mother, one
of the most searching discourses I ever heard,"
said Mr. Stewart, opening the discussion at their
Sunday dinner. " In many of his statements he
seemed to be looking into the depths of my own
heart."
To Deacon Long the sermon afforded con-
siderable material for his note-book. His sports-
manlike instinct was literally satiated with heretical
statements, heretical because they contained an
emphasis he had not been accustomed to hearing
in his earlier days.
334 THE MINISTRY OF
Meanwhile, the Monday evening club under the
efficient leadership of Tom Stewart was a large
factor in making Baldwin's situation bearable.
These meetings held for an hour or two in the
church parlors afforded Baldwin an opportunity
which he had long coveted. Any religious ques-
tion perplexing the minds of his young people, he
would take up and discuss with them. These
meetings sometimes fairly bristled with interroga-
tion points.
" The vital thing," he kept telling them at the
end of various discussions, " is not what you be-
lieve about the Bible or about the Christ. The
vital thing is Do you accept the Christ as
the Master of your life ? To be possessed by the
Christ-spirit to the central thing in Christianity."
"Would you accept a man for membership in
your church who while believing in the divinity of
Christ, could not believe that explanation of his
origin the Virgin Birth ? " asked Mr. Parker the
young lawyer.
" Certainly I would, Mr. Parker. If the man has
accepted Christ as his master, other things are
secondary. By emphasizing considerations which
are not fundamental we divide Christendom into
numerous rival sects, and thus impede the work of
the church in many communities. Rival churches
in small towns not infrequently do more harm than
they do good."
Baldwin was surprised and delighted to find
that his young people were thinking for them-
DAVID BALDWIN 335
selves on many religious subjects through which
he himself had struggled little by little into more
liberal conceptions. His own experience enabled
him to guide others walking along the same path.
" How thankful I am," said he to Miriam as
they were returning from one of these Monday
evening meetings, " that my own experience en-
ables me to guide the thinking of these young
people. If I were not liberal in my own thinking
I would be under the necessity of repressing their
questions."
" Yes ; and make them feel that they were wicked
for having liberal thoughts," replied Miriam.
" That is the way my pastor at home always made
me feel whenever he talked with me. I am sure,
dear, that you are doing for these young men and
women just what would have been so helpful to
me, if I could have had such a pastor."
" Thank you, dearest. And I'm so glad to have
you attend some of the services again. I think
you are right in not wanting to go to the regular
church services yet. But it does seem so good,
sweetheart, to have you at these Monday evening
meetings."
" I haven't heard you say anything special about
Mr. Brand for some time, dear. I hope he has
ceased annoying you ? "
" Oh, Mr. Brand and I ? Well, come to think
about it, I haven't said much about him lately,
have I ? We are we are getting on, after a
fashion, yes, after a fashion."
336 THE MINISTRY OF
" And Mr. Driver ? You haven't mentioned him
for some time. Has he been away ? "
" Let me see ? Yes, Driver has been away
some. I pay no more attention to Driver and
Brand than I find is necessary. There are so
many others in the church whom I find more con-
genial. By the way, how are you liking Mrs.
James?"
" She's splendid ! She's my ideal. And she
speaks so highly of your sermons, dear. She
wants us to take dinner with them Friday even-
ing."
"That will be fine," said David, breathing a
sigh of relief. He was glad to get Miriam away
from any thoughts or questions concerning the
pillars of the church. Anxiety would even yet
undo the slow gain of many weeks. To shield
her from this anxiety David Baldwin was leading
a double life. He compelled himself to wear a
smile in her presence when often his heart was
heavy and sad ; he found himself reading the
funny column in the papers in order to have
something cheerful to say at their meals. But
many of the funny things he read he could not
remember ; so this led to his keeping a joke-book.
"You see, I can't use these as illustrations in
my sermons," he told Miriam, laughingly. " So
you have to suffer. You see, I have to share them
with some one. Half the enjoyment of a good
joke consists in telling it again." Thus the situa-
tion was saved by humor.
DAVID BALDWIN 337
"No," objected Sylvester Brand to Deacon
Long's proposal of calling a church meeting.
" The time hasn't come for that yet. Some things,
I tell you, deacon, have to be done under cover,
and this is one of them."
"But my note-book what's the good of all
them unsound statements if we're not a-going to
use them?" complained Deacon Long, turning
the leaves of a leather-bound note-book he was
holding in his hand. "And I've listened through
many a sermon to get all them statements, every
one of 'em unsound. If we want him to go, what
more do we need ? If we can prove to the church
that he's unsound, ain't that all that's necessary?
As I was saying to my "
" Your idea, deacon, is all right when the proper
time comes ; when the proper time comes, deacon.
Your notes are valuable, of great value ; and we'll
use them, too ; but not now. We must not think
of letting this matter come openly before the
church, when we can accomplish our purpose a
thousand times better by working along other
lines."
" But don't we want to get rid of him because
he's unsound? Ain't that the reason we want
him to go ? " persisted Deacon Long, querulously.
" Yes, certainly," assented Brand.
"Then why not have a church meeting and
show up his unsoundness ? " demanded Deacon
Long, contending with unusual obstinacy for his
point. " We've got the material right here," pat-
338 THE MINISTRY OF
ting his note-book complacently. " Every page
in this little book contains one or more of his un-
sound utterances. As I was saying to "
" Your plan would work to perfection, deacon, if
it were not for one thing, for just one thing," Brand
repeated in his quiet impressive manner which al-
ways had great weight with Deacon Long. " I
would join you in a moment, in calling a church
meeting if it were not for one thing," pronouncing
the last two words with great solemnity. Brand
was finding the simple minded deacon a little more
difficult to manage than usual. " The one objec-
tion is this. There are any number of members
in this church, as in most congregations, who don't
know what unsound doctrine is, and what's more
neither you nor I could convince them, either. We
know he's unsound. But to save your soul, you
couldn't convince one half of the members of this
church of that fact. I know what I'm talking
about," significantly.
" Couldn't convince 'em ? I don't see why we
couldn't with all these statements right here in
black and white ! If a statement's unsound, it's
unsound, ain't it ? I don't see, Brand, that your ob-
jection holds. I'm for fighting the Lord's battles
openly. To speak plainly, I I am not, well, I do
not fully approve of of some of the things we've
been a-doing." At last Jacob Long had brought
himself to register the protest which had been
struggling for weeks to express itself.
Sylvester Brand looked at the deacon for a mo-
DAVID BALDWIN 339
ment. " You want him to resign, don't you ? " he
asked quietly.
" You know that as well as I do," retorted the
deacon.
" You believe that he's undermining the very
foundations of this church ? "
Long answered only with a nod of his head.
" The officers of this church have a most solemn
responsibility placed on their shoulders," continued
Brand. " Strange doctrines, upsetting the very
foundations of this church, are being proclaimed in
our midst. And what's more, a considerable ele-
ment in the church is already carried away by these
doctrines. I tell you, deacon, this is no time to
quibble ! I myself feel much as you do about
some of the things we have done. But the blame
deacon, rests upon him, not upon us. Has not
God raised us up for this very purpose to be de-
fenders of the faith ?
" I have no quarrel with Mr. Baldwin, person-
ally," he went on. " Indeed, I more than half like
him in spite of his heresy. But can a man evade
his destiny ? Willingly, I tell you, I would evade
mine, if I could. But I cannot. The doctrines of
my church are dear to me, dearer than life. At
the peril of my soul would I defend them."
Jacob Long was plainly overawed by these
solemn words of his colleague. One thought he
caught and turned over and over in his mind,
finding consolation in it.
" As you say, the blame is his'n. If there was
340 THE MINISTRY OF
no necessity we wouldn't have to do nothing.
But since he's unsound, the blame is his'n."
" Yes, and what we must work for is to bring
about his resignation quietly. He won't be able
to stand this much longer all we've got to do is
to keep it up. Now that the Marshalls have taken
a stand with us we shall be able to give the wheel
another turn," unconsciously using an allusion to
the old inquisitorial instrument of torture.
" What do you have in mind, now ? " asked the
deacon with little show of interest.
" The Marshalls are about to issue invitations to
a reception quite an elaborate affair."
" Yes, I know."
" And Mrs. Marshall has finally consented to
leave the Baldwins off her list."
" Do you think Mr. Baldwin will care ? " asked
the deacon with scorn in his tone. " I'm never in-
vited to Mrs. Marshall's receptions and /don't care.
I wouldn't go if I was invited. These fashionable
receptions how often do you see these same peo-
ple in prayer-meeting ? As I was saying to my
wife, these "
" But if you were a pastor, deacon, and one of
your prominent families were to ignore you
socially, in the most public manner, I tell you,
you would care. Ministers feel such things very
keenly."
" I suppose there's a difference when one is a
minister," admitted Deacon Long. " But I have
little faith in your scheme. If it don't produce re-
DAVID BALDWIN 341
suits, I shall insist on having a church meeting
called." The deacon had risen from his comfort-
able chair in Mr. Brand's private office. " If the
resignation ain't forthcoming within, say, three
weeks, I shall insist on bringing the material of
my note-book before a church meeting. Do you
agree to this ? " he asked facing the other man al-
most savagely.
Brand hesitated. " Yes," he finally answered ;
" if the resignation isn't forthcoming at the end of
three, no, make it four weeks, I am agreed to call-
ing a church meeting."
Victory at last! Jacob Long's sombre face
wore a shadowy smile as he took his departure.
For weeks and months he had been collecting
specimens of unsound doctrine ; these he would
now have the opportunity of exhibiting.
"I never before saw him so persistent," mut-
tered Brand, turning to a pile of correspondence.
" Humph, that note-book ! How he has enjoyed
that note-book ! But what does it amount to ?
Nothing, nothing at all. And a church meeting ?
The very thing we should avoid. Whatever pos-
sessed me to agree to it ? But it shall not occur.
That resignation shall be on hand if, if, well there
are more ways than one of causing a minister to
want to resign."
Gathering several papers in his hands and ar-
ranging others before him, he touched a button at
the side of his desk. Immediately his stenog-
rapher entered.
342 THE MINISTRY OF
" We'll get these letters off now, John," said he.
The defender of the faith had become a captain of
industry.
Sylvester Brand's office was equipped in a man-
ner similar to any one of ten thousand offices of
successful business men, that is, with all the
modern, labor-saving devices which have com-
pletely transformed the business world within the
past quarter of a century.
His business had grown steadily and for a few
years his sales were in excess of any of his com-
petitors in the city. He had attained this position
at the head of the coal and wood business in
Tioga only by adjusting himself a little sooner
than his associates to new methods of handling
his business, in the changing conditions of a grow-
ing city.
He had done in the coal and wood industry ex-
actly what Baldwin had done in his special line
kept up with the times. Progress in business had
brought the telephone, the typewriter, the stenog-
rapher, and a sharp division of labor, giving to
each man his special task. Evidences of progress
were on all sides, and men not in business ac-
cepted these changes without questioning their
right to exist.
In the sphere of religious thought the last
quarter of a century has witnessed progress equal
at least if not surpassing that of the industrial
world. In his business, the realm in which he was
intellectually alert, and in which he really lived,
DAVID BALDWIN 343
Mr. Brand was an ardent advocate of progressive
ideas ; but in the realm of religious thinking he
had not lived, he was intellectually inactive, and
his very definite set of theological conceptions
owing to their very definiteness, became a hin-
drance to his further development.
Further, in his psychology there was no dis-
tinction between religious faith and explanations
concerning this faith. Religious faith which is an
attitude of the heart toward deity he confused
with doctrines and beliefs, formal explanations of
faith, but of necessity transient and bound to
change with the growing knowledge of the indi-
vidual or of the race.
His religious zeal not finding its natural outlet
in the work of the ministry for which he had pre-
pared himself but was compelled to relinquish
owing to some throat difficulty, it was not un-
natural for a man of his temperament to drift into
the attitude of a self-appointed guardian of ortho-
doxy. The standard of right belief which to him
was absolutely final was of course the theological
conceptions he had reached at the close of his
brief career as a pastor. These he identified with
the beliefs of the denomination.
In his opposition to modern religious thought
Brand was honest. In his mind modern thought
was a more dangerous foe to religion and the
church than infidelity had ever been or could be.
Immorality and drunkenness were less a menace
to the church than this hydra-headed monster,
344 THE MINISTRY OF
modern thought. How his soul stirred within
him as he saw this plague of pernicious ideas
sweep over the land ! Oh, for the power to quar-
antine the church against the ravages of this
plague ! if not all Christendom, at least his own
beloved denomination.
When every community contains its own guard-
ian of orthodoxy, its own defender of the faith,
it is needless to employ further words in this nar-
rative to set forth the attitude of Sylvester Brand.
His type is too well known. He exists every-
where, the champion of religious beliefs which the
intellectual world has outgrown. He thinks he is
a champion of religion. Herein is a thousand
pities. What he really desires to accomplish the
promotion of religion he seriously obstructs.
For he would make the thought of yesterday a
substitute for the thinking of to-day.
Perhaps it is well that these guardians and de-
fenders of the faith do not know how much suf-
fering they sometimes cause. Sylvester Brand
knew that David Baldwin was suffering under his
treatment of him, yet such is the power of re-
ligious zeal when unbalanced with the common
sentiments of humanity, Brand pursued his prey
without compassion or mercy. O Religion, how
many crimes have men committed in thy fair
name !
The records of yesterday and of the day before
tell us of tortures in dungeons, of burnings at the
stake, of the wheel and the rack, and of instru-
DAVID BALDWIN 345
ments of torture almost beyond the imagination
of man to construct ; of men and women and
little children suffering deaths too horrible to por-
tray. But to die for a cause is not a greater sac-
rifice than to live and suffer for it.
Into the weeks following Brand's promise to
Deacon Long there was pressed all the annoy-
ance, humiliation, indignity for David Baldwin
that Sylvester Brand's fertile brain could devise
and accomplish. What an inquisitor-general he
would have made if only the spirit of the times
permitted !
Tom Stewart and other friends of the pastor,
though they knew of only a few of the indignities
Baldwin had to endure, were determined to mar-
shall the members of the church in favor of the
present regime and suppress Brand's persecution,
which his opposition to Baldwin had now virtually
become.
" No, friends, we must not have a church fight,"
Baldwin kept telling them. " There are few more
regrettable affairs on earth than a church torn
asunder."
" But, man, this thing can't go on. It's simply
killing you," protested Tom Stewart. " How any
Christian can act as Sylvester Brand has is be-
yond me. To judge from his actions toward you,
one would think that you were the very devil."
" Rather, that Brand himself is a devil," said
Mr. Strong who was calling on Mr. Baldwin at the
time.
346 THE MINISTRY OF
"Well, either way or both," replied Tom sav-
agely. "Sylvester Brand is working night and
day to bring about your resignation," he contin-
ued, addressing Baldwin. " You have already
endured too much, far too much from his hand.
Not one man in ten would have stood his treat-
ment as long. And he has fully a third of the
members of this church under his thumb. He's
their priest. He does their thinking. He uses
every method known to the politician to bind these
people to him. He's a regular boss a church
boss."
" And we must organize to checkmate him or
he will accomplish his purpose," said Mr. Strong.
" Dominie, you must untie our hand. Withdraw
your veto and we'll attend to this matter in short
order. As Tom says, this state of affairs cannot
go on much longer. Why, I'm getting on the
ragged edge of nervous prostration myself. The
whole church is in a state of strain. If you don't
withdraw your veto, why we'll have to proceed,
veto or no veto, dominie."
" You have promised me, both of you, to do
nothing of the sort. I stand where I've stood from
the beginning we must not split the church. I'm
glad for your support. Life here would be un-
bearable without it. Perhaps it would be best if I
should resign at once. That would relieve the
situation."
" I tell you, dominie, you shall do nothing of
the kind. Not while a considerable majority of
DAVID BALDWIN 347
the members desire you to continue with us. You
are doing for us what no other pastor has done.
Your sermons are of the kind we want. If Brand
doesn't fancy them, let him go elsewhere. Some
of us have had to feed in other churches occasion-
ally when he was having his type of preaching in
this church."
" Yes, or let him stay home and preach to him-
self," said Tom. "Fll double my subscription in
a moment if he would."
" There's no danger of his staying away he's
too good a fighter for that," said Strong. " But
I'm in a quandary, dominie."
"Indeed?"
" Yes, I promised Mrs. Strong I'd get your con-
sent to our doing something. You may expect a
call from her as soon as I get home."
"I always enjoy her calls," replied Baldwin,
lightly.
" She's determined that this matter shall be ad-
justed one way or the other. After coming home
from the Marshalls' the other evening, she was so
stirred up she didn't sleep any all night. She de-
clares she will not rest till something is done. So,
dominie, it's up to you, as the boys say. Which
will it be your consent to some move on the part
of your friends or your resignation ? "
" I'm exceedingly sorry that Mrs. Strong has
had to lose any sleep over this condition. Sleep-
less nights are terrible. What a luxury to go to
bed and sleep till morning ! But with reference to
348 THE MINISTRY OF
calling a church-meeting as you proposed a while
ago, I fear the consequences. In the present con-
dition of affairs, would not such a move be the first
step toward a church fight ? I am certain it would
be better for the community for me to resign."
" But we don't want you to resign," persisted
Tom, vehemently. " And may I ask the ques-
tion I know is personal but have you any church
in mind to which you could go ? "
" No," answered Baldwin, slowly. " I have no
other church in view. But that needn't matter,"
he added.
"If it comes to the worst and you feel that you
must resign rather than let your friends organize
against this opposition, would it be difficult for
you to get another church ? " Tom asked. " I I
feel that we should know what your prospects
would be. Is it easy or not for a minister in our
denomination to get a suitable church, one that
would furnish a reasonable support, when he re-
signs without having anything in view ? "
Baldwin replied, "The situation is something
like this : When a man doesn't want to make a
change, he usually has various opportunities and
invitations coming his way, if he is doing good
work. But let that same man resign without a
call elsewhere and thus become a minister without
a church and at once he becomes discounted by at
least ninety per cent. He is practically in no de-
mand whatever. Churches look upon him with
suspicion. Indeed, I know of more than one in-
DAVID BALDWIN 349
stance where pastors have endured shameful treat-
ment a year or two years rather than resign before
obtaining a call elsewhere."
" Great God 1 Is this what it means to be a
minister?" cried Tom Stewart, jumping to his
feet. " Come, Strong, we have heard enough ! "
" No, don't ask what we're going to do," said
Strong interrupting Baldwin's question. "And
see here, dominie, you might as well tear up that
resignation you've got tucked away somewhere in
your desk. You're not going to resign the pas-
torate of this church under any such circum-
stances. Your friends simply cannot permit it.
Tear it up, dominie ; tear it up. If ever the time
comes to use such a document, you can write an-
other. But that time has not come yet You are
in the hands of your friends. Rest content. Our
regards to Mrs. Baldwin. Good-bye."
Not trusting himself for further speech, Baldwin
silently pressed their hands as the two men left
his study. When he was alone, Baldwin turned
the key in the central drawer of his desk, took out
a sheet of paper and carefully read it.
" How did Strong know, I wonder?" he mused.
" It has certainly given me some relief just to
write the thing. Oh, if only I could see my way
clear to hand it in 1 "
Baldwin sat at his desk, lost for the moment in
the intensity of his meditation.
"Why don't I? Why do I not free myself
from this terrible strain? The remedy lies in
350 THE MINISTRY OF
using that sheet of paper. Why, then, don't I use
it ? What makes me hesitate ? Ah, it's the dread
of the morrow the dread of facing a morrow
without anything to do ! "
Who of us does not appreciate such a motive ?
To half of the world at least the bread and butter
problem is never out of sight. The wage-earner
is bound to his task by the dread of facing a
morrow in which he can find no work. What
self-abasement individuals endure, thousands of
them, rather than endanger their means of sup-
port 1 And what robs a man sooner of his dignity,
his self-respect than being without work? A
miserable sense of defeat settles like a cloud upon
the soul of the man who cannot find work the
work he has fitted himself to perform.
From the very nature of a minister's prepara-
tion for his life-work together with the professional
and social dignity attached to his position in the
community as a clergyman, David Baldwin was
filled with a great reluctance toward taking up
any other means of earning his support. He re-
called with a shudder the fate of his friend Thayer
at Oak Park. After his resignation from the
Calvary church Thayer had been forced to take
up the insurance business to support his family.
And having once thus unclassed himself Thayer
had never been able to regain his professional
standing.
" Save me, O God, from such a fate," breathed
Baldwin. "Something must open soon. I will
DAVID BALDWIN 351
wait a little longer," replacing the sheet in the
drawer and turning the key.
Though it was in the middle of the forenoon
and in the early part of the week, Baldwin found
he could not study. After repeated efforts to hold
his mind to his work, he went out into the street
and walked rapidly up town but without any
definite object in view. As he walked and walked
an objective point emerged in his consciousness.
Without any thought of doing so when he left his
study, he determined to call on Mrs. Hunter.
The need of his spirit seemed to guide him to this
little home where he had called so often. For
Mrs. Hunter was one of the saints to be found in
every community. She was past sixty and blind.
In her presence Baldwin always found an atmos-
phere of peace, of spiritual repose. The need of
his restless spirit took him into this atmosphere
now. As he waited a moment on the threshold,
he thought what a high function it was to create
about one's self such a spiritual restfulness. The
mere gathering of possessions was as nothing in
comparison to it. Nor should the mere accumula-
tion of knowledge be mentioned in the same
breath. Hers was an attainment in quality of
spirit.
After spending a half hour in conversation with
Mrs. Hunter, Baldwin felt the burden of unrest
had slipped away from him and in its place he
had gained something of this godly woman's own
attitude toward the perplexities of life. The high
352 DAVID BALDWIN
quality of her spirit had passed by an irresistible
contagion into his own heart. Dear saint, you
will never know how David Baldwin's troubled
spirit was calmed and strengthened by these half
hours in your presence. Such a service, however,
is, in being able to render it, a sufficient reward in
itself.
XXV
DAVID BALDWIN was conscious that he
was rapidly approaching the limit of his
endurance. After each successive evi-
dence of Brand's efforts against him, he found
himself so disturbed that whole nights were spent
in vain endeavors to lose consciousness of the
indignity he had suffered. He prayed for sleep,
he watched innumerable flocks of sheep jump over
the pasture fence, he stood by his bedside and
raised himself upon his toes hundreds of times, he
read chapter after chapter of interesting narrative,
he even read some of the chapters backward, but
all to no avail. The moment he turned out the
light and began to compose himself for sleep, that
moment the church situation would insist on pos-
sessing his mind. Dismiss it he could not. With
the need of sleep pressing hard upon him, he
found himself shut out from its restful, restorative
embrace.
Torture? Who would not prefer to be sub-
jected to the physical pain of the rack or the wheel
or any of the other terrible instruments of the in-
quisition than to be a helpless victim in the power
of one who stood between you and sleep? To de-
prive a man of food is an act so inhuman that no
civilized community permits such treatment to be
353
354 THE MINISTRY OF
inflicted even upon its most dangerous criminals ;
but any man can live longer without food than
without sleep. What, then, must be the nature of
that treatment whereby one man deliberately plans
to stand between another human being and his
sleep ? Sylvester Brand, in his zeal to protect the
creed of his fathers from the contamination of
modern thought, was doing exactly what Tor-
quemada did four hundred years before, only he was
accomplishing his purpose by a slower method of
killing off the heretic. Their spirit and motive
were very similar. Yes, both were honest men ;
men with strong religious convictions ; men who
truly believed they were serving not only their
God but also their day and generation, by com-
pelling the acceptance or preservation of a creed.
Brand was right. Baldwin could not endure his
treatment much longer. His step had lost its
elasticity, his face was thin, and on his brow sat
anxiety. He no longer cared to eat the processes
of digestion refused to make use of the food he did
manage to swallow. He longed to become a free
man but he did not dare use the means which
would make him free. He had written over two
score of letters without obtaining any prospects of
another settlement should he resign. But from
Miriam he carefully concealed all these things.
" Mrs. Baldwin is gaining slowly, making some
progress every week/' Doctor Wood told him.
" We have every reason to hope for a complete
mental recovery. But it is still imperative that
DAVID BALDWIN 355
she be kept free from mental strain, from all
anxiety or worry. As you value her life you must
keep from her all knowledge of this church situa-
tion."
" I know, doctor ; that is what I am trying to
do. Several of the church families have conspired
with me to keep her in ignorance of what Mr.
Brand has been doing. But daily I live in dread
of what the morrow may by chance word reveal to
her."
" Isn't there some way in your church of sup-
pressing a man like Mr. Brand?" asked Dr.
Wood.
" There is, but I do not care to use it. It would
mean a church fight."
" Ah ! I see. But your friends, Mr. Baldwin,
cannot permit this to go on indefinitely. Too
long, much too long the First Church has been
dominated by two or three of its members. In-
deed, I have said to Professor James more than
once that the best thing that could happen to the
First Church would be two or three first class
funerals."
" It certainly is a good thing that some men do
not live forever," admitted Baldwin.
"Yes, if the age limit were doubled, other
things remaining as they are, human progress
would be sadly retarded. It has not infrequently
happened that champions of the Old have had to
die off before the newer ideas could have a chance
to grow. This has been true not only in medicine
356 THE MINISTRY OF
and theology but in government and doubtless in
every department of human activity."
" I agree with you. Yet I recall at this moment
certain men old enough to be my father who are
fresh and vigorous in their thinking and who
champion the thought of to-day rather than the
ideas of a generation ago."
" We have, I am glad to say, some men of that
type in our community. But most men are like
Mr. Brand they grow and keep up with the world
in certain sections of their life, while in other sec-
tions they have made no progress for years.
With us physicians, however, it makes little dif-
ference whether a patient's ideas of medicine are
up to date or not. In medicine the layman does
not question the decision of the specialist. With
you preachers it is different. The preacher is a
specialist in his realm. Yet every layman in his
audience sits in judgment on his utterances, and
feels qualified to put his own untrained thinking up
as a standard by which to measure the theology of
his pastor. In medicine this attitude would not be
tolerated."
" Yet what we need in our churches is not less
thinking on the part of the members ; for this al-
ways tends to make the preacher into a priest.
Our great need is the general recognition that
creeds are only incidental to religion that re-
ligion is relationship or attitude toward God. It
is not the acceptance of this or that belief about
Christ but the acceptance of Christ himself as our
DAVID BALDWIN 357
master, our ideal which is the central thing in
Christianity."
" Would you on that basis accept me for mem-
bership in your church ? " asked Dr. Wood, turn-
ing about in his office chair.
" Most assuredly I would," answered Baldwin.
" Even if I told you of my inability to accept
the virgin birth accounts of his origin ? " persisted
the physician.
" That would make no difference. Men are not
saved from sinning by the acceptance of this or
that belief about Christ. It is belief in Christ ; it
is the possession of his spirit, his attitude which
makes a man a Christian, Dr. Wood."
"You utter my own thoughts, Mr. Baldwin.
For years I have held these opinions. They have
kept me outside the church, while in my own way
I have daily endeavored to follow the Christ."
" I see no reason why they should keep you any
longer out of the First Church, Dr. Wood."
" Nor I. Surely one may be as liberal as his
pastor. I want some part in what you are trying
to do, Mr. Baldwin. As a member of the church
I believe I could mean more to your work than I
possibly could outside. You may propose my
name for membership whenever you think best."
" Thank you, Dr. Wood," Baldwin said, tears
of gratitude and joy suffusing his eyes. " Your
words have put heart into me again."
It was well for David Baldwin that he was thus
strengthened, as it were, in the inner man by this
358 THE MINISTRY OF
conversation with Dr. Wood ; for on his way
home that afternoon he heard of Brand's purpose
of calling a church meeting. A church meeting ?
Brand could have but one object his resignation.
This public move seemed to Baldwin to be the
climax of the series. And Miriam ? How could
he keep Miriam from knowledge of this public
meeting? It would doubtless be in the papers.
Dr. Wood's warning rang in his ears. What
could he do ? Before reaching his home Baldwin
was resolved to take Miriam away from Tioga.
It would be to imperil her life not to act at once.
During the evening his opportunity came.
" My dear," said Miriam solicitously, " you are
working too hard ; you are getting so thin and
worn."
" I am feeling the need of a few days' change,
sweetheart," David admitted, as he drew her
down upon the arm of his easy chair. " How
would you like to visit the Hiltons for a few days ? "
" That would be fine ! Are you really thinking
of going, dear ? The visit would give you a few
days of rest and you need it so much."
"Yes, sweetheart, I'm really thinking of going.
Could we plan to leave here, say, next Monday
morning?"
" But the Monday club ? "
" Oh, we can arrange to postpone the meeting
for a week."
" Of course I can get ready any time, dear.
What a treat it will be to see Gertrude again."
DAVID BALDWIN 359
" And to go out on the lake with Tom for black
bass. Tom is such a jolly fellow. A few days
with him is better than a tonic."
Baldwin was glad that the matter had been ar-
ranged without arousing Miriam's suspicions. He
had acted his part well. He fell to musing whether
other people were driven to the necessity of acting
a part in order to save another from calamity or
sorrow? Could it be true that men and women
were all actors, no one ever knowing the real life
of those about him ? The thought held him with
strange fascination.
The strain already existing in the congregation
of the First Church kept increasing to alarming
proportions. Other topics of conversation lost
their interest in church circles when on the follow-
ing Sunday it was announced that at the request
of the required number of members of the church
the Standing Committee issued a call for a church
meeting on the Wednesday evening of the
week.
" * The purpose of this meeting,' " read the pastor,
" ' is to consider matters of vital interest to the
welfare of the church.' "
What the sermon was about, few of Baldwin's
listeners could have told at the close of the service.
After the benediction the preacher, with a great
heaviness of spirit, withdrew through the church
study and set out on a brisk walk. He could not
trust himself to meet the people in the foyer of the
church as was his usual custom. Could he meet
360 THE MINISTRY OF
Miriam without revealing to her the bruised and
bleeding condition of his heart? He knew he
could not. He was certain that Miriam's eyes
had been searching his face of late as if she would
know the meaning of the expression he could not
always successfully hide.
Two blocks he walked, and two more, turning
first down one street and then another.
"Yes, I will call on the Churchills," was his
thought as he searched about in his mind for some
reasonable excuse to account for his late appear-
ance when he should reach his home. The car
soon brought him to Glen Park and a short walk
covered the distance to their door.
In this home as at the Hunters', Baldwin always
found a restful atmosphere. Affliction and suffer-
ing found their compensation in quality of spirit.
At the end of a brief call, Baldwin's face wore an
expression reflecting a calmer state of mind than
when he had entered this humble home. For-
tunate the man whose duties bring him in con-
tact with such fountains of healing power ! A few
minutes later than his usual time of getting home
from the morning service, David Baldwin came
into Miriam's presence prepared to meet her lov-
ing but searching eyes. His burden had been
lightened.
During the afternoon, Professor and Mrs. Strong
dropped in for a little chat.
" We missed you, dominie, after the service,"
said Strong, as he shook his pastor's hand. " The
DAVID BALDWIN 361
sermon doesn't seem quite complete unless you
are at the door, shaking" hands with us at its
close."
" Of course we can understand how you must
have felt," said Mrs. Strong, forgetting for the
moment that Miriam knew nothing of the present
condition in the affairs of the church. " I
was "
" And so was I. I was nearly suffocated," in-
terrupted Baldwin. " The church was very close
this morning. I got out into the open air as soon
as I could."
" Yes," added Strong with a knowing look in
his wife's direction. " I too felt the effects of the
bad ventilation. We must look into this matter
and see if it cannot be remedied."
* ' Preaching is such energetic work I do not
wonder you want a breath of fresh air as soon as
you are through," was Mrs. Strong's comment as
she joined the other two actors in keeping
Miriam unacquainted with what might do her ir-
reparable injury.
" Has Mr. Baldwin told you ? " asked Miriam as
the two ladies were chatting. " We are going
away for a few days."
" Oh, I am so glad ! " exclaimed Mrs. Strong,
again forgetting herself.
" Mr. Baldwin's work has been pretty hard and
a little rest will do him good," said Miriam.
" Yes," said Mrs. Strong, again getting her
bearings. " Mr. Baldwin does need a rest. The
362 THE MINISTRY OF
change will do him good. It will do you both
good."
The slip did not escape Baldwin's ear. Mrs.
Strong was not accustomed to weighing her
words. Baldwin knew this and sat as it were on
pins until they had gone.
When they boarded the 8:30 train the next
morning Baldwin heaved a sigh of relief. At
last Miriam was safe. The church and Brand
and his church-meeting would be left behind.
" Why, good-morning ! " said a familiar voice
behind him. " Are you going to leave town,
too?" The speaker was Miss Appleton. She
took the seat opposite. " This is what I call a
streak of pure good fortune. I do so dislike to
travel alone."
Baldwin could not recall whether he had ever
spoken to Miss Appleton about not discussing
church matters in the presence of Miriam ; and
for three hours he kept such a lead on the conver-
sation that Miss Appleton had only one oppor-
tunity of introducing the church situation.
" Will you be back for the church-meeting ? "
she asked, innocently enough.
Baldwin winced. He succeeded in deadening
the last part of her question by clearing his throat
as the words were being uttered.
" No, Miss Appleton," he replied after he had
coughed two or three times thus removing, let us
hope, the cause of the irritation, " we shall not re-
turn in time for any of the meetings of the church
DAVID BALDWIN 363
this week. When a man goes fishing, you know,
he cannot be expected to return until he has to."
He wiped the perspiration from his brow and
plunged into another hour's continuous talking,
not giving Miss Appleton another chance to get
near any church topics. When they parted com-
pany at Sherman Junction it was with great
pleasure that Baldwin assisted the young lady to
a seat in the other train.
" Thank heavens ! " he exclaimed beneath his
breath as he was leaving Miss Appleton's coach.
" Now I hope we are safe."
Tom Hilton met them at the station. " Well,
well," said he after they had exchanged greetings,
" what have they been doing to your husband,
Mrs. Baldwin ? He has escaped I should say by
a pretty close margin."
Miriam was troubled. "He is thin, isn't he?
He has been working altogether too hard."
Baldwin's work had not hurt him. Work sel-
dom unfits any man. It's worry that drives men
under the sod before their time. Anxiety for
the morrow, who does not know its life-destroy-
ing power? In David Baldwin's case anxiety
had been raised to actual dread of what each suc-
ceeding day might unfold. The thought of
Miriam's welfare was never long absent from his
mind.
At his earliest opportunity he explained the
situation to Hilton.
" We will do everything in our power to aid
364 THE MINISTRY OF
you. I will caution Mrs. Hilton at once. When
did you say this meeting takes place ? "
" Wednesday evening."
" And you have no idea what will be the re-
sult?"
" Only that Brand usually accomplishes his
purpose. I know well enough what his purpose
is."
" But your friends in the church, can't they
do anything ? "
" I have pleaded with them not to get into a
church fight. Any organized move on their part
would mean a church fight. I have done all in
my power to avoid such an issue."
" Well, old man, I don't envy you your state
of mind, surely. But it's a good thing that this
meeting is going to bring the affair to a climax."
"Yes, God knows I've had this thing hang-
ing over me too long already. But what could
I do ? I was tied hand and foot."
"If only Mrs. Baldwin had been in her usual
health "
" It would have made all the difference in the
world."
" I can believe that. Human hearts were not
made to bear their burdens alone."
" You're right. If ever I have the privilege
again of sharing all of my problems with Mrs.
Baldwin. you can count me the happiest man in
the state."
" Let us hope that the time is near at hand.
DAVID BALDWIN 365
Mrs. Baldwin seems in excellent health phys-
ically ?" .
" She is. Physically she is quite herself again.
Her mental recovery has been much slower,
however."
" How long was she " Hilton hesitated
for the right word.
" Out of her mind ? "
" Yes."
" Several weeks, or eternities, I do not know
which. Hilton, I cannot tell you what it was like.
It was in some ways a greater blow than death it-
self. With such an experience behind me, you
can image what has been my solicitation to avoid its
repetition. With this latest move of Brand's con-
fronting me, it would have been at the peril of her
reason for us to have remained in Tioga this week."
" Undoubtedly. And for her sake as well as
your own you must keep this church meeting out
of your mind as much as you can. Women, and
especially wives, have sharp eyes. Do you know,
I believe Mrs. Hilton can read me like a book. I
very much doubt if I could keep as much of my
life from her as you have succeeded in doing from
Mrs. Baldwin."
" Hilton, no man knows what he can do until
the necessity is laid upon him. God grant that you
may never know the necessity for excluding Mrs.
Hilton from the chief activities of your life."
Meanwhile Miriam and her friend Gertrude were
enjoying each other as only old school friends can.
366 THE MINISTRY OF
They had so much to tell each other, so much to
talk about. Since their last visit how much had
happened !
As Miriam clasped to her heart Gertrude's little
babe, nearly the same age as her own would have
been had it lived, her mother heart went out in a
great yearning for the child she had lost. For a
moment she held the little one in her arms. All
the suppressed motherhood of her strong nature
seemed to flow out toward it. Though she said
not a word as she handed the babe to its mother,
tears sprang unbidden to each woman's eyes.
Gertrude's sympathy thus expressed was more
eloquent than words, and Miriam felt its power.
Soon a great calm displaced her disquietude.
And as they talked the hearts of these two were
drawn into yet closer bonds of fellowship.
We may trust David and Miriam to the kind
and efficient care of the Hiltons while we return to
Tioga. Here ancient Time, who not infrequently
plays havoc with the plans of men, sent forth one
of his imperial decrees ; and in response to the
summons the soul of Sylvester Brand took its
mysterious departure from the body it had
animated these sixty years. On the burial certif-
icate read the words " Heart failure."
On Wednesday morning Baldwin received a
telegram from Strong. For a moment and only
for a single moment conflicting emotions struggled
in his breast for supremacy. For he was human.
DAVID BALDWIN 36T
Then only sorrow for those in bereavement was in
his heart. Though Baldwin was incapable of en-
tertaining consciously an ignoble sentiment, he
could not suppress a new and gladsome sense of
freedom and relief. He returned to Tioga at once,
leaving Miriam to finish her visit with the Hiltons.
The January temperature outside was below
the zero mark fully ten degrees. Miriam sat in
David's study reading Ibsen while she waited
David's return from the annual business meeting
of the church. As he came up the steps, she laid
aside her book and looked into his eyes as he en-
tered the door.
" What ! Still reading Ibsen ? He's fine, isn't
he ? You must read his * Letters.' I got them
only yesterday."
"I like him. He fascinates me and yet
But tell *me about the business meeting. What
kind of a meeting did you have ? "
"A very unusual meeting, sweetheart."
"Unusual?"
" Yes. For one thing there were many present
who had never before attended a business meet-
ing of the church."
"For instance?"
"Well, Professor James was there and Mrs.
James, and "
" Their presence would give tone to any gather-
ing. Isn't it fine, David, that they are now tak-
ing so much interest in your work ? "
368 THE MINISTRY OF
" Yes, sweetheart, it helps a man to believe in
himself when such a man believes in him. Be-
sides Professor and Mrs. James, the Ell woods were
there and for the first time in his life, Dr. Wood
was there, Tom Stewart and two of his brothers,
Mr. Parker and "
" Was Mr. Driver present ? "
"Yes. He always attends."
" Did he have anything anything unpleasant
to say, dear ? "
" Well, he did have something to say," answered
David solemnly, avoiding Miriam's penetrating
look. "He "
" Oh, David, I was so hopeful that the business
meetings of the church would be different. Every-
thing has gone on so smoothly since "
" But I didn't finish telling you what Mr. Driver
said, sweetheart," David interrupted, his face be-
traying the character of his next sentence. " I said
that Mr. Driver had something to say. He made
a ten minute speech. And somewhere in his
speech he seconded Tom Stewart's motion to in-
crease my salary by one half."
" Oh, David 1 I am so glad 1 " cried Miriam
winding her arms about his neck and hiding her
face on his shoulder.
" What ! Does the little girl care so much for
the money as all this? " he teased.
"No, no I It's not the money, dearest. It's
what such an act means."
" Of course ; I understand, sweetheart." For a
DAVID BALDWIN 369
moment he stood holding her to his heart. Into
that moment was pressed the joy which should
have been his during the weeks and months when
sorrow and anxious dread held him within their
terrible grasp.
Reverently he lifted his heart in silent prayer.
" I thank thee, O God, that thou didst not let
me escape from the task for which I was born."
A new era had dawned in the life of the First
Church at Tioga. Baldwin, happy and joyous in
his work, was freely proclaiming the message of the
Christ in terms of modern thought. For a while,
in his isolation, he had thought he was standing
alone ; but as his knowledge of the situation
widened he came to know of scores of pulpits in
his denomination where the same problem was
being worked through.
And Miriam? While actively sharing again the
labors of her husband, her mental strength being
fully restored, she was finding time to fashion
anew some dainty little garments, and as she
sewed each stitch she breathed a prayer.
THE END
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