4.  The vacation of the parsonage and the removal of the minister into the region of the tenement district has created an intense feeling on the part of a large number of families who have for years been firm supporters and friends of the church.  They feel that the action was altogether uncalled for, and they think it has been the means of disrupting the church and throwing matters into confusion, besides placing the church in an unfavorable light with the other churches and the community at large.

5.  It was the opinion of a majority of the members present that while much of the spirit exhibited by yourself was highly commendable, yet in view of all the facts it would be expedient for the pastoral relation to be severed.  The continuance of that relation seemed to promise only added disturbance and increased antagonism in the church.  It was the wellnigh unanimous verdict that your plans and methods might succeed to your better satisfaction with a constituency made up of non-church people, and that possibly your own inclinations would lead you to take the step which the church has thought wisest and best for all concerned.

It is my painful duty as the clerk of Calvary Church to write thus plainly the action of the church and the specific reasons for that action.  A council will be called to review our proceedings and advise with reference to the same.

In behalf of the church,
-------- ----------, Clerk.

Philip finished the letter and lifted his eyes again.  And again he looked out through the window across the sheds to the roofs of the tenements.  From where he sat he could also see, across the city, up on the rising ground, the spire of Calvary Church.  It rose distinct and cold against the gray December sky.  The air was clear and frosty, the ground was covered with snow, and the roofs of the tenements showed black and white patches where the thinner snow had melted.  He was silent so long that his wife became frightened.

“Philip!  Philip!” she cried, as she threw her arms about his neck and drew his head down nearer.  “They have broken your heart!  They have killed you!  There is no love in the world any more!”

“No!  No!” he cried suddenly.  “You must not say that!  You make me doubt.  There is the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.  But, oh, for the Church! the Church which he loved and for which he gave himself!”

“But it is not the Church of Christ that has done this thing.”

“Nevertheless it is the Church in the world,” he replied.  “Tell me, Sarah, how this was kept so secret from me.”

“You forget.  You were so entirely absorbed in the care of Alfred; and then the church meeting was held with closed doors.  Even the papers did not know the whole truth at once.  I kept it from you as long as I could!  Oh!  It was cruel, so cruel.”

“Little woman,” spoke Philip, very gently and calmly, “this is a blow to me.  I did not think the church would do it.  I hoped——­” he paused and his voice trembled for a brief moment, then grew quiet again.  “I hoped I was gradually overcoming opposition.  It seems I was mistaken.  It seems I did not know the feeling in the church.”