There was more talk of the same sort, but it was plainly felt by Philip that the plan he had proposed was distasteful to the greater part of the church, and if the matter came to a vote it would be defeated. He talked the plan over with his trustees as he had already done before he spoke in public. Four of them were decided in their objection to the plan. Only one fully sustained Philip. During the week he succeeded in finding out that from his membership of five hundred, less than forty persons were willing to stand by him in so radical a movement. And yet the more Philip studied the problem of the town, the more he was persuaded that the only way for the church to make any impression on the tenement district was to put itself directly in touch with the neighborhood. To accomplish that necessity, Philip was not stubborn. He was ready to adopt any plan that would actually do something, but he grew more eager every day that he spent in the study of the town to have the church feel its opportunity and make Christ a reality to those most in need of Him. It was at this time that Philip was surprised one evening by a call from one of the working-men who had been present and heard his sermon on moving the church into the tenement district. "I came to see you particularly, Mr. Strong, about getting you to come down to our hall some evening next week and give us a talk on some subject connected with the signs of the times." "I'll come if you think I can do any good in that way," replied Philip, hesitating a little. "I believe you can. The men are beginning to take to you, and while they won't come up to church, they will turn out to hear you down there." "All right. When do you want me to come?" "Say next Tuesday. You know where the hall is?" Philip nodded. He had been by it in his walks through that part of Milton. The spokesman for the workmen expressed his thanks and arose to go, but Philip asked him to stay a few moments. He wanted to know at first hand what the man's representative fellows would do if the church should at any time decide to act after Philip's plan. "Well, to tell the truth, Mr. Strong, I don't believe very many of them would join any church." "That is not the question. Would they feel the church any more there than where it is now?" "Yes, I honestly think they would. They would come out to hear you." "Well, that would be something, to be sure," replied Philip, smiling. "But as to the wisdom of my plan--how does it strike you on the whole?" "I would like to see it done. I don't believe I shall, though." "Why?" "Your church won't agree to it." "Maybe they will in time." "I hope they will. And yet let me tell you, Mr. Strong, if you succeeded in getting your church and people to come into the tenement district, you would find plenty of people there who wouldn't go hear you."