The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-20

touohy when their private business Is
meddled with"
Philip sat listening to this speech, and
his face grew whittier and he clinched his
he had finished. Philip spoke In low
voice
"Mr. Bentley. you DO not know me IL
you think any fear OF the consequences
will prevent my speaking TO the members
OF my church on any matter where IL
seems TO me l ought To speak. In this
particular matter l believe II Is not only
my right but my duty TO speak. / would
be shamed before my Lord and Master II
] did not declare his will In regard TO
the uses OF property. This question passes
over from one OF private business. with
which l have no right TO meddle, into the
domain OF public safety, where ] have
right to demand that places which are
fatal to the life and morals of the young
men and women OF the town shall not be
encouraged and allowed TO subsist
through the use of property owned and
controlled by men OF influence In the
community and especially by the mem
bers of Christ's body. My brother"
Philip went on after a painful pause.
before God. In whose presence We shall
stand al last. am not right In my view
of this matter? Would not Christ say to
you just what am now saying
Mr.. Bentley shrugged his shoulders and
up business and religion. Philip sat look
ing 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 prolonging
the argument. He rose, and with the
same sweet frankness which character
ICED his opening of the subject he said
Brother, I wish TO tell you that II is my
intention To speak OF this matter next
Sunday I'm the first OF my talks on Christ
and Modern Society ] believe IL IL some
thing he would talk about In public. and
i Will speak OF II as think he would
You must do your duty OF course. Mr..
Strong" replied Mr.. Bentley, somewhat
coldly, and Philip went out. feeling as IF
he had grappled with his first dragon In
Milton and found him TO be very ugly
one and hard 10 kill What hurt him as
much as the lack OF spiritual fineness OF
apprehension OF evil In his church mem
Der was the knowledge that. as Mr.. Ben
tley so coarsely put IL, his salary was
largely paid out OF the rentals OF those
vile abodcs. He grew sick at heart as he
dwelt upon the disagreeable fact, and as
he came back 10 the parsonage and went
up 10 his cozy study he groaned TO think
that ii was possible through the price
that men paid for souls
And this because society Is as II is''
he exclaimed. as he 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 desk at which
he wrote his sermons.
But Philip Strong was not one TO give
way at the first feeling OF seeming de-
feat. He did not too harshly condemn his
members. He wondered at their lack OF
spiritual life; but, TO his credit be II said
nj 49, a q
Sunday approached. he grew more clear
in his own mind as to his duty In the
matter. Expediency whispered to him:
Better walt. You have only just come
here. The people like you now. 1t Will
only cause unpleasant feelings and do no
good for you TO launch out into cru
sade against this thing right now. There
are so many OF your members involved
that II will certainly ALLEVIATE their sup
port and possibly lead TO your being
compelled to lose your place as pastor IL
II do not drive away the most infuen-
tial members"
To all this plea OF expediency Philip re-
piled. Get thee behind me. satan!'' He
said with himself. he might as we'll let
the people know what he was at the very
first Ii was not necessary that he should
be their pastor II they would none OF him.
IL was necessary that he preach the truth
boldly. The one question he asked himself
was, Would Jesus Christ, II he were
pastor of Calvary church in Milton today.
speak OF the matter next Sunday and
speak regardless OF all consequences?'
Philip asked the question honestly. and
after long prayer and much communion
with the Divine he said "Yes, l believe
he would" 1t Is possible that he might
have gained by waiting or by working
with his members In private. Another
man might have pursued that method
and still have been courageous. true
minister. But this Is the story OF Philip
Strong. not of another man. and this Is
what he did:
When Sunday morning came. he went
into his pulpit with the one thought IN
minde that he would simply and frankly,
in the presentation Of the subject. use
the language apd the spirit OF his Master.
lie had seen other property owners dur
ing the week, and his interviews were
nearly all similar TO that with Mr.. Bentley
He had not been able to see Mr.. William
Winter. the chairman OF the trustees. az
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 tho aisle 10 his pew. which was the
third from the front, directly before the
pulpit
When the hymn had been sung, the
offering taken, the prayer made. Philip
stepped out at one side OF the pulpit
and reminded the congregation that, ac-
cording to his annuncement OF n week
before, he would give the first OF his Sc
rles OF monthly talks on Christ and
Modern Society" The subject this morn
ing. he said. was "The Right and Wrong
Uses OF Property"
He started out with the statement
which he claimed was verified every
where I'm the word OF God, that all prop
erty that men acquire is really only I'm
the nature Of trust funds. which the
property holder is In duty bound TO use
as a steward. The gold Is Gods The sill
Yer II Gods. The cattle on a thousand
hills. all land and water privileges and
wealth OF the earth and OF the seas be-
long primarily 10 the Lord OF all the
earth. When any OF this property comes
within the control Of a man. he Is not at
liberty 20 use II as II II were his own and
his alone. but as God would have him
use II to better the condition OF life and
make men and communities happier and
moro useful
From this statement philfn went on ~