Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-01-25

was true that he rented several houses
in certain block where saloons and
rambling houses were numerous. The
man locked at Philip, turned red and
finally said it was q fact, but none of
Philips business.
MY dear brother" said Philip, witt
sad but winning smile, you cannot
imagine what it costs me to come to
YOU about this matter. In one sense it
may seem to you like an impertinont
meddlng in your business. In another
sense it is only what | ought to do as
pastor of a church which is dearer to
me than my life. And l have come to
YOU as a 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 brothcr:'
The man to whom the question was
put made the usual excuses. that if he
did not rent TO these people other men
would, that there was no call for the
property by other parties and if it were
not rented to Objectionable people 1t
would lie empty at "A dead loss, and so
forth 70 all of which Philip opposed
the piain will Of God. that all Il 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
~ 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 a man of any means
in the church who isn't deriving some
revenue from this source. Why, IL large
part of your salary is paid from these
very rents. You will get into trouble
if you try to NEEDLE in this matter.
don't take offcnsc. | think you have
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 ana will stand by
in giving you Il handsome support, but
men are very tOuchy when their pri
( yatc business is meddled with"
| Philip sat listening to this speech
and his face grew winter and he
clinchcd his hands tighter as the mar
went on. When he had finished, Philil
/ spoke in a low voice:
MIR. Bentley, you do not know mt
| If you think any fear of the consc
| quenccS will prevent my speaking Il
the members of my church on any mat
ter where II seems to me | ought Il
speak. In this particular matter | be
licvc ii is not only my right but my
duty TO speak. | would be shamod be
fore my Lord aud Master If | did no
declare his will in regard to the uses o.
property This question passes owe
from one of private business, witt
which | have no right 10 NEEDLE, int
the domain of public safety, where
have Il right TO demand that places
which are fatal to the life and moral
of the young men and women of til,
town shall not be encouraged ana al
lowed to subsist through the use o
property owned and controlled by mel
of influence in the community and es
pccially by the members of Christ
body My brother" Philip went OF
after painful pause, "before God, II
whose presence we shall stand nj last
am not right in my view of this mat
ter Would not Christ say to you JUS
what i am now saying?'
Mr. Bentley shrugged his shoulder
and said something about not trying It
mix up business and religion. Phlil
sat looking AT the man, reading hin
through aud through. his heart almos
bursting in him AT the thought Of wha
man would do for the sake of money
AT last he saw that he woulu gail
nothing by prolonglng the argument
lie rose, and with the same swec