The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1900-02-09

0TrIe excited Mill owner, and II reused
Philip more than IL 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, 1t was an intimation that he
was in the ministry for pay or the sal
airy, and SO must be afraid Of losing the
support of those members who were
able to pay largely. He clinched his
fingers around the arms of his study
chair until his nails bent 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 a
matter Of the most profound principle
with me. AS long as live l shall be-
lieve that a Christian man has no more
right to rent his property for a saloon
than he has to run a saloon himself.
And as long as l live l shall also be-
lieve that it is q minister's duty to
! preach to his church plainly upon mat
tiers which bear upon the right and
wrong Of life, no matter what Is in
volved in those matters. Are money
and houses and lands Of such a charac-
ter that the Use of them has no bearing
on moral questions, and they are there
fore to be left out of the preaching ma
terial Of the pulpit? 1t is my convic-
ton that many men Of property in this
age are coming to regard their business
as separate and removed from God and
all relation to him. The business men
of today do not regard their property
as Gods. They always speak of it as
theirs. And they resent any 'interfer-
ence,' as you call it, on the part of the
pulpit. Nevertheless say it plainly, |
regard the renting Of these houses by
you and other business men in the
church to the whisky men and the cor
rupters Of youth as wholly wrong and
so wrong that the Christian minister
who would keep silent when he knew
the facts would be guilty of unspeak-
able cowardice and ~disloyalty to his
Lord. AS to your threat of withdrawal
Of support, sir, do you suppose would
be in the ministry if l were afraid of
the rich men in my congregation? 1t
shows that you are not yet acquainted
with me. 1t would not hurt you to
know me betterw
All the time Philip was talking his
manner was that of dignified indigna-
ton. His anger was W coarse or
vulgar. But when he was reused, as
he was now, he spoke with a total dis
regard for all coming consequences.
For the time being he felt as perhaps
one Of the old Hebrew prophets used to
feel when the fame Of inspired wrath
burned up in the soul of the messenger
of God.
The man who sat opposite was COM
PEELED to keep silent until Philip had
said what he had to say. 1t was i'm
possible fos him to interrupt. Also it
was out of the question that a man
like Mr.. Winter should understand a
nature like that of Philip Strong. He
was white to the lips with passion and
so excited that his hands trembled and
his voice shook al he replied to Philip:
"You shall answer for these insults,
sir. l withdraw my church pledge, and
you will see whether the business men
in the church will sustain such preach
ing" And Mr.. Winter flung himself
out of the study and down stairs, for
getting to take his hat, which he had
carried up with him. Philip caught it
up and went down stairs with it,
reaching him just as he was going out
of the front door. He said simply,
You forgot your hat, sir" Mr.. Winter
took it without a word and went out.
slamming the door hard behind him.
Philip turned around, and there stood
his wife. Her face was very anxious.
Tell me all about it, Philip" She
said. Sunday evening they had talked
over the fact of Mr.. Winters walking