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

81 have come TO see you about your |
sermon Of yesterday morning" began !
Mr. Winter abruptly. 81 consider |
what You said was a direct insult to
me personally"
"Suppose l should say it was not so
h'ended?' replied Philip, with good
na'ured smile
"Then | should say you licd"' replied
Mr.. Winter sharply.
Philip sat very still And the two
men eyed each other in silence for
moment. The minister reached out his
hand and laid it on the others arm.
saying as he did SO: "My brother, you
ce,tainly did not come into my house
to accuse me uniustly of wronging
you? / am willing to talk the matter
over in friendly spirit. but | will not
listen to personal abuse
There was something in the tone and
manner of this declaration that sub
ducd the mill owner little. He was
an older man than Philip by 20 years.
but Il man of quick and ungovorned
temper. He had come to see the min
lister while in a heat of passion. aud
the way Philip received him. the calm
ness and dignity of his attitude.
,hwarted his purpose. He wanted to
find a man ready to quarrel. Instead
he found a man ready to talk reason.
Mr. Winter replied, after a pause, dur
ing which he controlled himself by
great effort:
81 consider that you purposeiy select
ed me as guilty of conduct unworthy
a church Elember and "A Christian AMI
made me the target of your remarks
yesterday. And | wish to say that such
preaching will never do in Calvary
church while | am one of its mem
bers."
"Of course you refer to the matter
of renting your property to saloon men
and to halls for gambling and other
evil uses" said Philip bluntly. Are
you the only member of Calvary
church who let's his property for such
purpOses:'
1T is not a preachers business to
Dry into the affairs of his church mem
bcrs." replied Mr.. Winter, growing
more excited again. THAT is what |
object to.
an the first place, Mr. Winter" said
Philip steadily, "let us settle the right
and wrongs of the whole business. Is
it right for Christian man. a church
member. to rent his property for sa-
looms and vicious resorts where human
life is ruinedE"
THAT is not the question"
so IL. I, Is,
eyes wide open to the others face.
Mr. Winter answered sullenly: 1.-The
question is whether our business af-
fairs those of other men with me, are
to be dragged into the Sunday church
services and made the occasion of per-
sonal attacks upon us. | for one Will
not sit and listen TO any such preach
ing
but aside from the matter of pri-
vate business, Mr. Winter, let us settle
whether what you aud others are doing
is right. Will you let the other matter
rest a moment and tell me what is the
| duty of Il Christian in the use of his
property|
1T is my property. and if | or my
in "A legal, business way. that IS my af-
| fair. | do not recognize that you have
anything 10 do with it.
Not if am convinced that you are
! doing what is harmful to the COM
munity and the church,"
| You pave no business To NEEDLE in
| our private affairs" replied Mr. Win
ter angrily. And if YOU intend To pur
| sue that method of preaching | shall
withdraw my support, and most of the
influential, paying members will follow
my example
| Ii was a cowardly threat on the part
of the excited mill owner and it reused
| Philip more than if he had been phys
ically slapped in the face. If there
was anything in all the world that stir
| red Philip To his oceanic depths Of
| feeling, ii was an intmation that he
| was in the ministry for pay or the sal
| AIRY, and so must he afraid of losing the
support of those members who were
able To pay largely. lie clinchcd his
| fingers around the arms, of his study
chair until his nails benz on the hard
wood. His scorn and indignation burn
ed in his face, although his voice was
calm enough.
"Mr Winter. this whole affair is
matter of the most profound principle
with me. AZ long as live shall be-
hcvc that Christian man has no more
right to rent his property for a saloor
| than he has to run "A saloon himself
And as long as l live | shall also be
lieve that it is n minister's duty TO
preach TO his church plainly upon mat