The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-03-16
NUMBER %.

would if he were your pastor. These
talks will be given on the first Sunday
of every month. | cannot announce
the subjects, for they will be chosen
as the opportunities arise
During the week Philip spent several
hours of each day in learning the facts
concerning the town. One of the first
things he did was to buy an accurate
map of the place. He hung it up on
the wall of his study and in after days
found occasion to make good use of it,
He spent afternoons walking over the
town. He noted with special interest
and earnestness the great brick mills
by the river. five enormous structures
with immense chimneys, out of which
poured great volumes of smoke Some
thing about the mills fascinated him.
They seemed like monsters of some
sort, grim, unfeeling, but terrible. As
one walked by them he seemed to feel
the throbbing of the hearts of five crea-
lures. The unpainted tenements. ugly
in their unfailing similarity, affected
Philip with a sense of almost anger
He had a keen and truthful taste in
| matters of architecture, and those
| boxes of houses offended every artistic
and homelike feeling in him. Coming
home one day past the tenements, he
found himself in an unknown street,
| and for the curiosity of it he undertook
| to count the saloons on the street in
one block. There were over -. There
was a policeman on the corner as Phil
| ip reached the crossing, and he in
quired of the officer If he could tell him
who owned the property in the block
| containing the saloons.
| 81 believe most of the houses belong
to Mr.. Winter, SIR
"Mr. William Winter" asked Philip.
Eyes, think that's the name He is
the largest owner in the Ocean mill
yonder."
Philip thanked the man and went on
| toward home. "William Winter" he
| exclaimed. "Is it possible that man
will accept a revenue from the renting
Of his property to these vestibules of
hell? That man! One of the leading
members in my church! Chairman of
/ the board of trustees and leading citi-
zen of the place! 1t does not seem pos
sibler'
But before the week was out Philip
had discovered facts that made his
heart burn with shame and his mind
rouse with indignation. Property in
the town which was being used for sa-
looms, gambling houses and dens of
| wickedness was owned in large part
by several of the most prominent men,
bers of his church. There was no
doubt of the fact. Philip, whose very
nature was frankness itself, resolved
to go to these men and have plain
talk with them about it. 1t seemed to
him like monstrous evil that Chris
tian believer, church member, should
be renting his property to these dens of
vice and taking the money. He called
on Mr. Winter, but he was out of town
and would not be back until Saturday
night. He went to see another member
who was large owner in one of the
mills and a heavy property owner. 1t
was not a pleasant thing to do, but
Philip boldly stated the precise reason
for his call and asked his member If it
was true that he rented several houses
in a certain block where saloons and
gambling houses were numerous. The
man looked at Philip, turned red and
: finally said it was fact, but none of
; Philips business.
|, ''My dear brother" said Philip, with
!, a sad but winning smile, you cannot
imagine what it costs me to come to
| you about this matter. In one sense 1T
, may seem to you like an impertinent
meddling in your business. In another
sense it is only what l ought to do as
/ pastor of church which is dearer to
me than my life. And have come to
: you as brother in Christ to ask you
if it seems to you like a thing which
: Christ would approve that you, his
disciple. should allow the property
which has come into your hands that
, you may use it for his glory and the
building up of his kingdom to be used
, by the agents of the devil while you
! reap the financial benefit. Is it right,
my brother?'
(TO BE CONTINUED)