At that service all names presented by the committee were formally acted upon by the church.

The committee's action was generally considered final, and the voting was in accordance with the committee's report.
So when the committee came in that evening following the Sunday that had witnessed the conversion of the sexton, Philip had ready a list of names, including several young men.

It was a very precious list to him.
It seemed almost for the first time since he came to Milton as if the growing opposition to him was about to be checked, and finally submerged beneath a power of the Holy Spirit, which it was Philip's daily prayer might come and do the work which he alone could not do.

That was one reason he had borne the feeling against himself so calmly.
Philip read the list over to the committee, saying something briefly about nearly all the applicants for membership and expressing his joy that the young men especially were coming into the church family.

When he reached the sexton's name he related, simply, the scene with him after the morning service.
There was an awkward pause then.