Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-03-01

Dplng cOmpeiicu 10 iosc sNN1
pastor if ii 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
well let the people know what he was
at the very first. II was not neces-
sary that he should be their pastor IL
they would none Of him. II 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 TO-
day. speak of the matter next sunday
and speak regardless Of all conse-
ouences?" Philip asked the question
honestly. and after long prayer ana
much communion with the Divine he
said. yes. / believe he would 1t Is
possible that he might have gained by
waiting or by working with his mem
bers in private Another man might
have pursued that method and still
have been a courageous, true minister.
But this is the story of Philip Strong,
not Of another man, aud 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 spir-
il Of his Master. lie had seen other
property owners during the week, and
his Interviews were nearly all similar
to the one with Mr. Bentley. He had
not been able to see Mr.. 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, the
Offering taken, the prayer made, Pmllp
stepped out at one side of the pulpit
and reminded the congregation that
according 10 his announcement Of a
week before. ne would give the first OF
his series of monthly talks on Christ
and Modern Society" His subject this
morning. he said, was "The Right and
Wrong Uses of Property
lie started out with the statement,
which he claimed was verified every
where In the word Of God, that all
property that men acquire is really
only In the nature of trust funds.
which the property holder is in duty
bound to use as a steward. The gold
is Gods. The silver is Gods. The cat
tie on a thousand hills, all land and
water privileges and wealth OF the
earth and Of the seas belong primarily
to the Lord of all the earth. When any
Of this property comes within the con
troll Of a man, he is not at liberty TO
use it as IL ii were his own and his
alone. but as God would have him use
Il to better the condition of life and
make men and communities happier
and more useful
From this statement Philip went on
TO speak of the common idea which
men had that wealth and houses and
lands were their own to do with rs
they pleased, and he showed what
misery and trouble had always flowed
out OF the great falsehood and how
nations and individuals were today in
the greatest distress because of the
wrong uses to which Gods property
was put 10y men who had control OF II.
1t was easy then TO narrow the argu-
ment to the condition of affairs in
Milton. As he stepped from the gener'
al to the particular and began to speak
of the rental OF saloons and houses OF
gambling from property owners in
Milton and then characterized such a
use of Gods property as wrong and
un-Christian IL was curious TO note the
effect on the congregation. Men who
had been listening complacenuy to
Philips eloquent but quiet statements
| ms long as he confined himself 10 dis
tant historical facts, suddenly became
aware that the tail, pale faced resolute
and loving young preacher mp there
was talking right at them, and more
than one mill owner, merchant, reaI
estate dealer and even profession
al man writhcd inwardly and merry
ously shifted in his cushioned pew
as Philip spoke in the plainest
terms of the terrible example sci
the world by the use of property
for purposes which were destructive tC
all true society and a shame to civiliza
ton and Christianity. Philip con
trolled his voice and his manner admi
rably. but he drove the truth home and
spared not His voice at no time ros,
above a quiet conversational tone, but
it was clear and distinct. The audienc,
sat hushed in the spell Of a geuine sen
sation, which deepened when, at tn,
close of tremendous sentence which
swept through the church like a red
hot fame. Mr.. Winter suddenly ARCS,
in his pew. passed out into the aisl,
and marched deliberately down anC
out of the door. Philip saw him anC
knew the reason. but marched straight