The Crucifixion of Philip Strong

The Crucifixion of Philip Strong

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Title: The Crucifixion of Philip Strong
Author: Charles M. Sheldon
Release Date: April 14, 2006 [EBook #18171]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
CRUCIFIXION OF PHILIP STRONG ***

Produced by Carl D. DuBois

THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILIP STRONG
BY
REV. CHARLES M. SHELDON
AUTHOR OF

"In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do?" "His Brother's Keeper," "Robert
Hardy's Seven Days," etc.
NEW YORK AND LONDON
STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS
Copyright 1899
By STREET & SMITH

THE CRUCIFIXION OF PHILIP STRONG.
CHAPTER I.
Philip Strong could not decide what was best to do.
The postman that evening had brought him two letters and he had just
finished reading them. He sat with his hands clasped over his knee,
leaning back in his chair and looking out through his study window. He
was evidently thinking very hard and the two letters were the cause of
it.
Finally he rose, went to his study door and called down the stairs,
"Sarah, I wish you would come up here. I want your help."
"All right, Philip, I'll be up in a minute," responded a voice from below,
and very soon the minister's wife came upstairs into her husband's
study.
"What's the matter?" she said, as she came into the room. "It must be
something very serious, for you don't call me up here unless you are in
great distress. You remember the last time you called me, you had shut
the tassel of your dressing-gown under the lid of your writing desk and
I had to cut you loose. You aren't fast anywhere now, are you?"
Philip smiled quaintly. "Yes, I am. I'm in a strait betwixt two. Let me

read these letters and you will see." So he began at once, and we will
copy the letters, omitting dates.
CALVARY CHURCH, MILTON.
REV. PHILIP STRONG.
DEAR SIR:--At a meeting of the Milton Calvary Church, held last
week, it was voted unanimously to extend you a call to become pastor
of this church at a salary of two thousand dollars a year. We trust that
you will find it in accordance with the will of the Head of the Church to
accept this decision on the part of Calvary Church and become its
pastor. The church is in good condition and has the hearty support of
most of the leading families in the town. It is the strongest in
membership and financially of the seven principal churches here. We
await your reply, confidently hoping you will decide to come to us. We
have been without a settled pastor now for nearly a year, since the
death of Dr. Brown, and we have united upon you as the person most
eminently fitted to fill the pulpit of Calvary Church. The grace of our
Lord be with you. In behalf of the Church,
WILLIAM WINTER, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
"What do you think of that, Sarah?" asked Philip Strong, as he finished
the letter.
"Two thousand dollars is twice as much as you are getting now,
Philip."
"What, you mercenary little creature, do you think of the salary first?"
"If I did not think of it once in a while, I doubt if you would have a
decent meal or a good suit of clothes," replied the minister's wife,
looking at him with a smile.
"Oh, well, that may be, Sarah. But let me read you the other letter," he
went on without discussing the salary matter.

CHAPEL HILL, CHURCH, ELMDALE
REV. PHILIP STRONG,
DEAR BROTHER:--At a meeting of the Elmdale Chapel Hill Church,
held last week Thursday, it was unanimously voted to extend you a call
to become pastor of the church at a salary of $2,000 a year, with two
months' vacation, to be selected at your own convenience. The Chapel
Hill Church is in a prosperous condition, and many of the members
recall your career in the college with much pleasure. This is an
especially strong centre for church work, the proximity of the boys'
academy and the university making the situation one of great power to
a man who thoroughly understands and enjoys young men as we know
you do. We most earnestly hope you will consider this call, not as
purely formal, but as from the hearts of the people. We are, very
cordially yours,
In behalf of the Church, PROFESSOR WELLMAN, Chairman of the
Board of Trustees.
"What do you