Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-30

siam conrinccd That I must 90 TO Mil-
TOM
done your duty And confess II
doesn't seem exactly the thing. But,
az society In organized. don't see that
We can change the matter. Better not
try 90 do anything about II. Mr.. Strong.
The church likes you and viii stand by
Ia giving you n handsome support. but
men are very touchy when their pri-
waite business II mcddlcd with"
Philip sat listening 10 this speech.
and his face grew whittier and he
clinchcd his hands tighter ~ the man
went on. When he had finished. Philip
spoke In n low voice.
Mr.. Bentley. you do not know me
II you think any fear Of the consc-
qucnccs Will prevent my speaking To
the members OF my church on any mat
ter where IL seems tO me / ougbf 20
speak. In this particular matter l be-
licvc II In not only my right but my
duty to speak. would be Hhamed be-
fore my Lord and Master II l did not
declare His Will In regard to the uses Of
property. This question passes over
from one OF private business. with
which l have no right To NEEDLE. 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 aubslst through the use OF
property owned and controlled by men
| OF influence In the community and cs-
| pecinlly by the members OF Chriata
body. My brother" philip went on
after n painful pause, before God. In
| whose presence we shall stand at last.
| am l not right In my view OF this mat
ter? Would not Christ say TO you Just
what am now saying?"
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 ut the thought OF what
| a man would do for the sake OF money
| At laat 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 N my In
tention to speak OF this matter next
| Sunday In the FIRST OF my talks ON
Christ and Modern Society 1 believe
| II In something He would talk about In
| public. and l VIII speak OF II az l think
| he would"
'You must do your duty. OF course.
| Mr.. Strong" replied MIR. Bentley. some
what coldly. and Philip went out. feel
Ing az " he had grapplcd with his first
dragon In Milton and found him to be
very ugly one and hard 10 Kill. What
| hurt him az much as the lack OF spirit
| ual hnencss OF apprehension OF evil In
| his church member was the knowledge
that. as Mr.. Bentley 80 coarsely put Il,
| his salary was largely paid out OF the
rentals OF those vile abodes. lie grew
sick at heart as he dwelt upon the dis
| agreeable fact, and as he came back to
sthe parsonage and went up to his coy
study he groancd TO think that II was
possible through the price that men
paid for souls.
and this because society II as II Isl"
he exclaimed. as he buried his face In
| his hands and leaned his elbows on his
desk, while his cheeks flushed and his
heart quivercd mt the thought OF the
| Nth and vicness 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 mt the first feeling OF SEEM
Ing defeat. lie did not too harshly con-
denim his members lie wondered at
their lack OF spiritual life: but. to
his credit be II said. he did not harshly
condemn. only. ms sunday approach
ed, he grew more clear In his own mind
as TO his duty In the matter. Expe-
diency whispered to him: Better walt.
You have only Just come here. The
people like you now. II win only
cause unpleasant feelings and do no
good for you to launch out Into cru
sade against this thing right now
There are 10 many OF your members
Involved that It VIII certainly ALLEVIATE
their support and possibly lead to your
being compelled to lose your place as
pastor II It does not drive away the
most Influential members"
To all this plea OF eNpedlency Philip
replied. "Get thee behind me. satanl"
He said with himself, he might AS well
let the people know what he was
at the very first. IL was not neces-
sary that he should be their pastor II
they would none OF him. II was nee
cssary that he preach the truth boldly,
The one question he asked himself
was. would Jesus Christ. II He were
pastor OF Calvary church In Milton to-
day. speak OF the matter next Sunday
and speak regardless of all conse-
quenccs?' Philip asked the question
honestly, and after long prayer and
much communion with the Divine he
said, Eyes. believe He would" II is
possible that he might have gained by
waiting or by working with his mem
beers In private. Another man might
have pursued that method and still
have been "A COURAGEOUS, true minister.
But this II the story OF Philip Strong,
not OF another man, and this Is what
he did:
When Sunday morning came. he
went into his pulpit with the one
thought In mind that he would simply
and frankly. In his presentation OF the
subject, use the language and the spirit
OF his Master. lie had seen other
property owners during the week, and
his interviews were nearly all similar
to the one with MIR. Bentley. He had
not been able 10 see MIR. william Win
ter, the chairman Of the trustees. as he
had not returned home until very late
Saturday night. Philip saw him come
into the church that morning, Just as
the choir rose to sing the anthem. He
was "A large. fine looking man. Philip
admired his physical appearance as he
marched down the aisle to his pew,
which was the third from the front, d.
rectly before the pulpit.
When the hymn had been sung. tho
Offering taken, the prayer made. philip
stepped out ut one side OF the pulpit