Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-12-30


Philip pressed him to give up the whole
iniquitous revenue and clear himself
of all connection with it the property
owner looked aghast.
"Why. Mr.. Strong, do you know
what you ask? Two-thirds of the most
regular part of my income Is derived
from these rents. 1t is out Of the ques.
tion for me to give them up. You are
too nice in the matter. All the prop
erty owners In Milton do the same
thing. There isn't man of any means
in the church who isn't deriving some
revenue from this source. Why. large
part Of your salary is paid from these
very rents. You will get into trouble
If you try to NEEDLE In this matter. |
don't take offense. ! think you have
done your duty. And confess 1t
doesn't seem exactly the thing. But,
as society Is organized. don't see that
we can change the matter. Better not
try to do anything about it. Mr.. Strong.
The church likes you and will stand by
in giving you a handsome support, but
men are very touchy when their pri.
vate business Is meddled with"
Philip sat listening to this speech.
and his face grew whittier and be
clinched his hands tighter as the man
went on. When he had finished. Philip
spoke In low voice:
"Mr Bentley. you do not know me
| fall f,.ar ~ hn
quences will prevent my speaking TO
the members OF my church on any mat
ter where it seems to me ought TO
speak. In this particular matter | be-
lieve 1t Is not only my right but my
duty to speak would be shamed be-
fore my Lord aud Master If | did not
declare his will in regard to the uses Of
property This question passes over
from one Of private business. with
which | have no right TO meddle. into
the domain Of public safety. where |
have u right to demand that places
which are fatal TO the life and morals
Of the young men and women OF the
town shall not be encouraged and al
lowed TO SubSSt through the use or
property owned and controlled by men
of influence in the community and es
Decially by the members Of Christ's
body My brother" Philip went ou
after a painful pause. "heforp God. 10
whose presence we shall stand at last.
am | not right in my view Of this mat
ter? Would not Christ say TO you just
what am now sayingT'
Mr.. Bentley shrugged his shoulders
and said something about not trying to
mix up business and religion. Philip
sat looking at the man. reading him
through and through. his heart almost
bursting in him at the thought Of what
q man would do for the sake OF money
At last he saw that he would gain
nothing by prolonging the argument.
He rose. and with the same sweet
frankness which characterized his
opening Of the subject he said: Broth
er. wish to tell you that il is my In
tention to speak Of this matter next
Sunday in the first Of my talks on
Christ and Modern Society," be-
Iieve it is something he would talk
about In public, and | will speak of 1t
as l think he would"
"You must do your duty. Of course,
Mr.. Strong" replied Mr.. Bentley, some
what coldly, and Philip went out. feel.
ing as If he had grappled with his first
dragon In Milton and found him to be
q very ugly one and hard to kill What
hurt him as much as the lack Of spir'
itual fneness Of apprehension Of evil
in his church member was the knowl.
edge that. as Mr. Bentley so coarsely
put it, his salary was largely paid out
of the rentals Of those vile abodes. He
grew sick at heart as he dwelt upon
the disagreeable fact, and as be came
back to the parsonage and went up to
his cozy study he groaned to think
that it was possible through the price
that men paid for souls.
"And this because society Is as it Isl"
he exclaimed, as be buried his face In
his hands and leaned his elbows on bis
desk, while his cheeks flushed and bis
heart quivered at the thought OF the
filth and vileness the money had seen
| and heard which paid for the very
desk at which he wrote his sermons.
But Philip Strong was not one to
give way at the first feeling OF seem
ing defeat. He did not too harshly
condemn his members He wondered
at their lack of spiritual life; but, to
his credit be It said. he did not harshly
condemn. Only, as Sunday approach
ed. he grew more clear In his own mind
as to bis duty In the matter. Expe-
diency whispered to him: Better wait.
You have only just come here. The
people like you now. 1t will only
cause unpleasant feelings and do no
good for you to launch out into a cru.
SADIE against this thing right now.
There are so many Of your members
involved that it will certainly ALLEVIATE
their support and possibly lead to your
being compelled to lose your place as
pastor if it do not drive away the most
influential members"
To all this plea Of eXpediency Philip
replied. Get thee behind me, satan"
He said with himself. he might as
we'll let the people know what he was
at the very first. 1t was not neces-
sary that he should be their pastor II
they would none Of him. 1t was nee
essary that he preach the truth boldly.
The one question he asked himself
was. would Jesus Christ. If ne were
pastor Of Calvary church In Milton to-
day. speak Of the matter next Sunday
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