SOME MOMENTOUS DECISIONS.
"We are ready to live in the settlement house," said Mr. Carlton
slowly; "Mrs. Carlton, Inez, and myself."
His announcement was received by the others in perfect silence.
At last Judge Vernon spoke in a tone that revealed very strong emotion.
"It may not be possible for all of us to do as Mr. Carlton has decided.
Not all the people in Merton can become residents in Freetown. But I
came here to-night to say this: I will reside in the house a part of
the time and give my personal attention to whatever part of the work
over there I can help most."
Again there was silence. The Rev. Howard Douglass said afterward that
all during that evening's experience he felt so astonished at the
unexpected volunteers for the work that he was like one who sees things
in a dream.
The Hon. William Brooks had listened with head bent and a look of
strange hesitation on his face. He now lifted his head, and looked
directly at the minister.
"Mr. Douglass, the Sunday that you spoke about this plan for redeeming
Freetown I walked home with Deacon Culver here, and in a talk with him
I criticised the plan and expressed my doubts as to its success. I came
here to-night to offer my services to make your plan a success. You are
entirely right when you say that money alone cannot do this work. You
are right when you say that people must go and live there themselves."
He stopped suddenly, and the Rev. Howard Douglass returned his look,
while the color rose in each man's face.
"Will you live there yourself?" The minister asked it as if the other
man had compelled the question. Indeed, he said afterward that it
seemed absolutely necessary to make Mr. Brooks commit himself directly
on that point.
No one spoke for a moment. The stillness was deep and full of meaning.
"Yes, I will," said the voice of the lawyer at last. Probably he had
never spoken three words that cost more or meant more to a large number
of souls.
No one spoke again for a moment. There seemed to be a tension in every
man's mind, but a great hesitation to expel it with the spoken thought.
Deacon Culver said at last: "Mrs. Culver and I will do our part. I am
fully in sympathy with the pastor's plan."
"Mrs. Douglass and I have decided our course. We will make our home
for the time in the settlement. I need hardly say that we are deeply
moved by this unexpected beginning of the work. The Spirit of God has
certainly moved all your hearts. I have been guilty of questioning
God's power. What I have heard to-night shows me that nothing is too
hard for him." The minister's voice trembled; and, as he looked into
the faces of those men, he felt that the victory of good over evil was
possible. He saw already the redemption of Freetown a reality.
They sat long together, and talked over details of the plan. The longer
they counselled together, the more convinced they all felt that the
work they were about to do was a work of such tremendous power and
value that it could not be measured by money or mental effort.
[Illustration: _"Will you live there yourself?" the minister asked._]
During the conference it became evident that the same influences
had been moving those men to decide their relation to the social
settlement. The tragedy in Judge Vernon's home had affected him
profoundly. He read in the events which had led to his son's death the
lesson of personal responsibility for the redemption of Freetown. It
was learned long afterwards that Mr. and Mrs. Carlton and Inez had made
the complete change in their lives through the effect of that tragic
incident on Inez. No power of man could ever have wrought so complete
and astonishing a change. The divine Spirit had moved their hearts and
made them new creatures. The Hon. William Brooks had reasoned himself
to a logical acceptance of the minister's plan; and then, tired of the
indifference and selfishness of an observer of human wretchedness who
criticises others, he had suddenly determined to give himself, where
for so many years he had simply given his opinions. But although he
himself did not acknowledge it at the time, he also was led by the same
Spirit which can make proud men yield themselves and enter the Kingdom
as a little child.
During the next few days the city of Merton experienced a sensation
when it was told the news of that meeting at the house of the Rev.
Howard Douglass. There was nothing very remarkable in the fact that
Mr. Douglass and Deacon Culver had promised to go and live a part of
the time in the social settlement. But when it became known that Judge
Vernon, Mr. Carlton, and the Hon. William Brooks expected to work in
Freetown, and actually take up their residence a part of the time in
the house, everybody exclaimed in wonder.
Perhaps the best idea of the way in which the people of Merton regarded
the facts may be obtained from a conversation that occurred at one of
the society events of that winter.
It was in the house of Mrs. James Lewis, the wife of one of the
railroad officials. Mrs. Lewis was president of the United Clubs of
the women of Merton. Her influence in the city was second only to
that of Mrs. Carlton. The two women, each in her own circle, had been
leaders for many years. Mrs. Lewis was very literary, and had a talent
for organization. The United Clubs often gave a series of lectures by
well-known women speakers. Once every winter they met at the house of
Mrs. Lewis for a reception. It was this event that was the scene of
a spirited discussion over the news of Mr. Douglass's plan and its
unexpected volunteers.
"The plan is simply absurd," said the wife of one of the editors of
_The Daily News_. "It is one of those things that belong to dreams, but
have no place in practical life."
"But still, some of the best things in the world come from the people
who have visions. Do you remember what Mrs. Garnet said in her last
lecture? 'The ideal in life is always preceded by the visionary. Some
one must dream before any one will act.' There is a great truth at the
heart of that social settlement."
There was a pause for a moment in the room where the discussion was
going on. Before it was broken, Mrs. Lewis came to the door.
"Mrs. Lewis, what do you think of it?" asked the editor's wife.
"You are discussing Mr. Douglass's plan for redeeming Freetown? I
overheard a part of it. I'll tell you. He has been to see me about it.
Shall I tell what he asks us to do?"
"By all means!" exclaimed an excited chorus of voices.
"He wants the United Clubs of Merton to work for an endowment fund, so
that the social settlement will become a permanent institution."
There was silence a moment. The women looked expressively at one
another.
"That isn't what we are organized to do," finally said one of the
ladies.
"Wholly outside of our sphere. We are neither a charity nor a church
organization."
"It will break up our meetings for literary culture if we turn aside to
do benevolent work."
"But still," said another voice from a sweet-faced woman who had not
yet spoken, "still, isn't it a pity that we should get together so
often year after year simply to study the Greeks and Romans and the
arts and the sciences, and never study the city in which we live,
its needs, its condition, its degradation? It is possible we are not
studying the most important things of life in our clubs."
Mrs. Lewis looked at the speaker thoughtfully. "I have been thinking
of that also." Every one in the room looked surprised. Mrs. Lewis went
on: "We could raise a great deal of money in our clubs if we once
determined to share in this redemption of Freetown."
"We might change the name of our club to the United Missionary
Society," said a sarcastic voice. "I beg to be excused, ladies, if you
are going to take up Freetown and try to reform it."
"Look at Mrs. Carlton and Inez," said another. "Isn't that a seven
days' wonder?"
"No greater than Mr. Brooks or Judge Vernon. The judge must be made of
strange material."
"I was talking with Isabel--."
"But, ladies," cried Mrs. Lewis, "what do you think we ought to do
about the matter of helping Mr. Douglass?"
"What do _you_ think?"
"I am in favor of it. What have we ever done as a club for the real
uplift of the city where it needs the most help? We have a membership
in the United Clubs of nearly one thousand members. If each of us
gave one dollar, that would go a long way toward supporting the social
settlement for a year."
Again there was an expressive silence. There was assent on some faces,
disapproval on others. Mrs. Lewis was about to go on, when she was
suddenly called out of the room. The discussion continued after she
was gone. It grew more animated throughout the afternoon and evening.
The social settlement in Freetown became the one exciting theme of
conversation. There was one large element that seemed ready to go with
the president and pledge the United Clubs to the support of the work.
There was another decided group of women who refused to entertain the
idea of making such a radical change in the programme of regular club
life.
When the reception was over and every one had gone home, it was
entirely uncertain whether Mrs. Lewis would be able to use her
influence to persuade the United Clubs to take an active part in the
work of redeeming Freetown. Mrs. Lewis sat very thoughtful in her
house that evening. Several times she said to herself: "O, we might,
we ought. Surely we are not using our time and our strength to the
highest advantage." But, after all, she was unable to tell whether her
influence was strong enough to carry the majority of the clubs with her.
Meanwhile, the prisoner Burke Williams had been awaiting in the
county jail the carrying out of the sentence which condemned him to
the penitentiary for twenty years. According to the common law in the
case, he would be obliged to serve out the time for his first offence
before being tried for the second. But various plans had been tried to
surprise him into confessing the crime of Claude Vernon's murder, and
he was detained in the county jail beyond the regular time.
He was still in his cell, sullen and silent. The sheriff had at last
made his plans to convey the prisoner to the State prison on the day
when Judge Vernon was sitting in a case where another negro from
Freetown was under trial for a serious offence against the State.
Judge Vernon sat there pale and stern. His emotions were conflicting.
The man on trial again represented the lost part of the city, and
every time he looked at his stolid, brutal face the judge saw the face
of the other man, and pictured him on his way to his twenty years'
confinement. Could such a spot as Freetown be redeemed? Was it possible
to save such souls as these? The courtroom was crowded. The bailiff had
just arisen to proclaim the opening of court. Suddenly, near the door,
an unusual disturbance was noticeable. It grew in volume. All eyes were
turned in that direction. Judge Vernon half rose from his seat; and
the large audience, lawyers, officers, and spectators, seemed to feel
as by a united wave of intelligence that something very remarkable had
happened.