Willmar tribune., 1900-02-28

the sPtalQ VIII OF txOu. that all q 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 a church member But when
Philip pressed him to give up the whole
ubiquitous. revenue and clear himself
of all connection with it the property
owner looked aghast. -. h. -5.
why, Mr.. Strong, do you know
what you ask?5 Two-thirds of the most
regular part Of my income is derived
from these rents. 1t is out of the ques4
ton 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 a man of any means
| in the church who isn't deriving some
revenue from this source Why, 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 l 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. but
men are very touchy when their pri-
| vate business is meddled WITH"
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 low voice:
""Mr. Bentley. you do not know me
IT. 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 l ought to
speak. In this particular matter be-
neve it is not only my right but my
duty to speak, | would be slamed be-.
fore my Lord and Master if | 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 meddle. into
the domain of public safety. where /
have q right to demand that places
| which are fatal to the life and morals
or 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 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?''' IT,. :..z.. !.
~ Be1tleg rugged Ills shoulders
and said something about not trying tc
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
man would do for the sake of money.
At last he saw that he would gain
nothing by prolo1ging 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 it is my iI-
tention to speak of this matter next
| Sunday in the first Of my talks on
Christ and Modern Society," Il be.
lleye it is something he would tall;
about in public, and l will speak of it
| as l 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
a very ugly one and hard to kill. What
hurt him as much as the lack of spir-
itCal fneness Of apprehension of evil
in his church member was the knowl.
edge that. as Mr.. Bentley so coarsely
put it. his salary was largely paid out
of the rentals of those vile abodeS He
grew sick at heart as 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 it was possible through the price
that men paid for souls. "
"And this because society is as it isr'
he exclaimed. as be buried his face in
his hands and leaned his elbows on his
desk. while his cheeks flushed and his
heart quivered at the thought of the
filth and -vileness the money had seen
and heard which paid for the very
j 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 nc
| good for you to launch out into a cru
sade against this thing right now
There are so many of your members
involved that it will certainly alienats
their support and possibly lead to your
being compelled to lose your place as
pastor If it. do not drive away the mos1
influential members. . ID
] 70 all this plea Of expediency Philip
replied. Get thee behind me. satan!.'
He He said with himself, he. might ms
] we'll let the people know " hat he was
at the very first. 1t was not neces
sary that he should be their pastor il
4 they would none ofshim. 1t was nee
essary that he preach the truth boldly
The one. question he asked himself
was. Vould Jesus Christ. it he were
pastor OF Calvary church ii Milton 10