The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1915-12-24
CHAPTER xvlii.


Rev. Smith Boyd Protests
The doves which In summer fitted
about the quiet little vestry yard. and
cooed over tho vestry door, would
have flown away had they been at
home: for II wac a stormy affair. with
.leaaa voices and slashinS wills .aHd a
general atmosphere OF tenslty. which
was somewhat at variahce with the
red.robed ngure OF the Good Shepherd
In the pointed window OF the yestry.
The late arrival was Joseph @ Clark.
and bis eye sought that o; Banker
Chisholm. before be 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
anee TO subside, and then he finished
his speech.
That is my unalterabls position In
the matter" no declared III Market
Square church has a mission. II is
the responsibility for these miserable
human wrecks whom we have made
our wards"
We can't feed and clothe them"
objected Banker Chisholm. whose
white mutton chops already glowed
pink from the anger.reddened skin be-
meath.
1T doesn't pay to pauperire the
people," supplemented Willis Gun.
ntugham. stroking his sparse vandyke
omplacsntly. Cunningham. whose
sole relationship 10 economies con-
sisted in permitting his secretary to
sign checks. had imbibed few prin-
cipies which sufiiced for all occasions.
Il do not wish to pauperise Thorn. :
returned the rector. Il 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 @. Clark glanced again at
Chisholm
They'd DO dirty again in ten
years" no observed. IF we build the
new type Of sanitary tenement ws
shall have to charge more rent. or not
mako q penny Of profit: and We can't
70, more rent because the people who
would pay It will not come into that
neighhorhood.-
Are we compelled to make q
profit 7" retorted the rector. lis Il nee.
essary for Market Square church to
remain perrctually q commercial land
lord!"
The veStry gared at Rev. Smith
Boyd In surprised disapprovaL Their
previous rector had talked like that.
and Rev. Smith Boyd had been great
relief
80 long as the church has property
at all. II will meet with that persistent
charge" argued Chisholm. 1T seems
TO me that we have had enough OF II.
Ny own inclination would b TO sell
the property outright, ind take Up
slower. but less personal. forms Of
investment"
Old Nicholas Van Ploon. sitting far
enough away to fold nis bands com.
fortAbly across his tight vest screwed
his neck around % that he could glare
At the banker
no" he objected. for the Van
Ploon millions had been accumulated
By the growth OF tall once buildings
out OF q worthless Manhattan swamp,
we should never sell the property"
| There are doren Arguments
against keeping IT," returned the nasal
voice OF old Joseph G. Clark This
chief enc Is the necessity OF making
a large investment In these new tene
ments-
Rev, Smith Poyd rose again. shut.
ting the light trom the red robe OF
the Good Shepherd out OF quietly con.
centrated Jim Sargent's eyes.
Il object 10 this entire discussion.
he stated. We have q moral ohilSA.
ton which tnrbids US to discuss mat
ters Of investment and profit within
these walls as II we were q lard trust
We have neglected our moral ob!iga
ton iE vedder court. until We are "a
biackened with sin ~ the thief on the
cross-
Shrewd old Rufus Manning looked
al the young rector curiousiy. He WA
pushed over the change In him.
! Don't swing the pendulum too far
Doctor Boyd MAnnins reminded him
! wtth Q grsas deal Of ktnaitnssA rhsss