River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-11-04
CHAPTER XVIII.
Rev Smith Bovd Protests.


The doves which in summer fitted
about the quiet little vestry yard, and
cooed over the vestry door, would
have flown away had they been at
home; for it was stormy affair, with
loud voices and clashing wills and a
general atmosphere Of tensity, which
was somewhat at variance with the
red-robed figure of the Good Shepherd
in the pointed window of the vestry.
The late arrival was Joseph G. Clark,
and his eye sought that of Banker
Chisholm, before he nodded to the 9th
ers and took his seat at the Gothic
table. Rev. Smith Boyd, who was
particularly straight and tall today,
and particularly in earnest, paused
long enough for the slight disturb
ance to subside, and then he finished
his speech.
"That is my unalterable position in
the matter" he declared. IF Market
Square church has mission, 1t is
the responsibility for these miserable
human wrecks whom we have made
our wards
eve can't feed and clothe them"
objected Banker Chisholm, whose
white mutton chops already glowed
pink from the anger-reddened skin be-
meath.
ut doesn't pay to pauperize the
people," supplemented Willis Gun
ningham, stroking his sparse Vandyke
complacently. Cunningham, whose
sole relationship to economics con-
sisted in permitting his secretary to
sign checks, had imbibed a few prin-
ciples which sufficed for all occasions
"I do not wish to pauperize them"
returned the rector. II am willing to
accept the shame of having the city
show Market Square church its duty,
in exchange for the pleasure Of re-
placing the foul tenements in We'd
| der court with clean ones"
Joseph G. Clark glanced again at
| Chisholm
They'd be dirty again in ten
years" he observed. eff we build the
new type of sanitary tenement we
shall have to charge more rent, or not
make penny of profit; and we can't
get more rent because the people who
would pay it will not come into that
neighborhood."
Are we compelled to make
profit?" retorted the rector. 'Ts it nee
essary for Market Square church to
remain perpetually commercial land
lord?"
| The vestry gazed at Rev. Smith
Boyd in surprised disapproval. Their
previous rector had talked like that,
and Rev. Smith Boyd had been a great
relief
$50 long as the church has property
| at all, it will meet with that persistent
charge" argued Chisholm. 1T seems
to me that we have had enough of it.
My own inclination would be to sell
the property outright, and take up
slower, but less personal, forms OF
investment"
Old Nicholas Van Ploon, sitting far
enough away to fold his hands COM
fortably across his tight vest, screwed
his neck around so that he could glare
at the banker
mo-" he objected; for the Van
Ploon millions had been accumulated
by the growth OF tall Office buildings
out of a worthless Manhattan swamp.
I'VE should never sell the property"
There are dozen arguments
against keeping it," returned the nasal
voice Of old Joseph G. Clark. "The
chief one is the necessity of making
a large investment in these new tene-
ments."
Rev. Smith Boyd rose again, shut
ting the light from the red robe of
| the Good Shepherd out of quietly con-
centrated Jim Sargents eyes.
81 object to this entire discussion"
he stated. 1--WE have a moral obliga-
| ton which forbids us to discuss mat
| tiers of investment and profit within
these walls as if we were a lard trust
We have neglected our moral obliga-
ton in Vedder court, until we are as
| blackened with sin as the thief on the
cross"
Shrewd old Rufus Manning looked
at the young rector curiousiy. He was
| puzzled over the change in him.
Don't swing the pendulum too far,
Doctor Boyd" Manning reminded him,
with great deal of kindness. These