The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-05-17

forth. To all of which Philip opposed
the plain will Of God. that all a man
has should be used in clean and honest
ways, and he could never sanction the
getting Of money through such i'm
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 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, n large
part Of your salary is paid from these
very rents. You will get into trouble
II you try to meddle in this matter.
don't take offense. 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 1t, Mr.. Strong.
The church likes you and will stand by
in giving you handsome support. but
men are very touchy when their pri-
vate business Is meddlcd with"
Philip sat listening to this speech,
and his face grew winter and he
clinchcd his hands tighter as the man
went on. When he had finished. Philip
spoke in low voice:
"Mr. Bentley, you do not know me
IL you think any fear of the consc-
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 my
duty to speak. | would be shamed be-
fore my Lord and Master il 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 NEEDLE. into
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 subsist through the use Of
property owned and controlled by men
Of influence in the community and es-
pecially by the members OF Christ's
body. My brother" Philip went on
after n painful pause before 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 saying?"
Mr.. Bentley shrugged his shoulders
and said something about not trying to
mix up business and religion. Philip
sat looking Mt 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 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 1t is my In
tention to speak Of this matter next
Sunday In the first Of my talks on
Christ and Modern Society," | be-
lieve 1t Is something he would talk
about in public. and l 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 In Milton and found him to be
n very ugly one and hard to kill. What
| hurt him as much as the lack of spir-
itual fineness Of apprehension Of evil
in his church member was the knowl-
edge that, as Mr.. Bentley so coarsely
put 1t, his salary was largely paid out
Of the rentals Of those vile abodes. He
grew sick at heart rs he dwelt upon
the disagreeable fact, and as he came
back to the parsonage and went up to
his cozy study he groaned to think
that 1t was possible through the price
that men paid for souls.
"And this because society Is rs 1t 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 qulvered Mt 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 ut 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 1t 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.
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