Willmar tribune., 1900-02-28

lllS l;-:.ll VIII OF goa. that all man
| has should be used ia clean and honest
ways, and he could never sanction the
getting Of money through such im-
moral channels. The man was finally
induced to acknowledge that it was not
just the right thing to do and especial
ly for church member. But when
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 uuess
| ton for me to give them up. You arc
too nice in the matter. All the prop
erty owners in Milton do the same
thing. There isn't a man Of any means
IN the church who isn't deriving some
revenue from this source. Why, a large
part OF your salary is paid from these
very rents. You will get into trouble
if you try to meddle in this matter. |
don't take offense. l think you have
done your duty. And | confess it
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 b..
IN giving you handsome support. bu,
men are very touchy when their pri-
vate business is meddled wth''
Philip sat listening to this speech,
and his face grew whittier and he
clinched his hands tighter as the man
went on. When he had finished, Philip
| spoke in a low voice:
MIR. Bentley, you do not know me
If: you think any fear of the conse-
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 it is not only my right but nv
duty to speak. l would be shamed be.
fore my Lord and Master if did not
declare bis 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 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 Of
property owned and controlled by men
OF influence in the community and es-
peclally by the members of Christ's
body. My brother," Philip went on
after painful pause, 'bcfore God, in
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 sayingY'
MI Bentley shrugged 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
a man would do for the sake of money.
AT last he saw that he would gain
nothing by proloaging the argument.
He rose, and with the same sweet
frankness which characterized his
opening Of the subject be said: "Broth-
er, wish to tell you that it is my in
tention to speak of this matter next
Sunday in the first Of my talks on
Christ and Modern Society," be-
lleve it is something he would talk
about in public, and | will speak OF it
as 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 III Milton and found him to be
a 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 knowI-
edge that as Mr.. Bentley so coarsely
put it. his salary was largely paid ollt
of the rentals of those vile abodeS He
grew sick at heart as he dwelt upon
the dlsagreeable fact, and as he 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 isr'
he exclaimed as he buried his face in
his hands and leaned his elbows on his
desk. while his cheeks flushed and his
heart qulvered 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 his 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 cru
sade 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
10 all this plea Of expediency Philip
replied. Get thee behind me, satanr'
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 if
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 he were
pastor of Calvary church in Milton In.