*****
Men who serve the Master will at the same time serve men. It seems but proper to demand of the Christian that he prove his profession by his love of humanity. The religion that is only preached meets few demands, the religion that is lived satisfies human wants. Jesus Christ bore a relation of helpfulness to the burdened world; the disciples of the Nazarene cannot do less than follow the example of the man loving Master. At least, this is the expectancy of the men, they simply take the Christian at his word. Mr. Higgins has instanced this many times, for his parishioners feel that when a man is needed the Christian should be the first to respond.
"Pilot," said a lumberjack to Mr. Higgins, "I've got a friend in the saloon over yonder and the drunken fool is blowing his stake as fast as he can throw it over the bar. I ain't able to get him out and the bar tender would give me a hunch to get out myself if I tried. Will you help me?"
"Come on," said the preacher. "We'll see what we can do together."
As they entered the barroom the woodsman pointed out his friend. Paddy was in that hilarious state of intoxication where liberality knows no bounds. He staggered up to the bar and in drunken happiness cried:
"Here, bung swater, set up to the house. Hades while the dough lasts. Turn the spigot and give us a beer bath."
Paddy generously emptied his pockets on the metal counter and a roll of bills and a handful of silver lay before the crowd.
The bar tender reached for the cash to sweep it into the till, but he was not quick enough, for the large hand of the missionary covered the roll of bills.
"I'll take this for my treat, Paddy," said Mr. Higgins in a quiet but decisive tone.
"No you don't," said the saloon man and he hastened to attack the intruder.