Middletown transcript., 1916-02-19

/
Gerald Fosland, who had spent SOM
time in definitely settling with himsel
the ethics of that question. "Th'
company he proposed to form was 1
menace to the liberty Of the world ant
the progress of civilization"
The destruction didn't go IA
enough" snapped Jim Sargent. CLARK
Vance. Haverman, Grandin, Babbitt
Taylor Chisholm; these fellows won
be touched. and they built up thei
monopolies by the same method ALI
son proposed; trickery, force ant
plain theft!"
Harsh language, Uncle Jim Sar
gent to use toward your respectable
feliow-vestrymen." chided Arly, hel
black eyes dancing.
CLARK and Chisholm" and Jim Sar
gents brows knotted. They're moi
my fellow-vestrymen. Either they gC
or I dol"
\ would like you to remain" qui
etly stated Rev. Smith Boyd. 81 hops
to achieve several important altera
tionS in the ethics of Market Square
church" He was grave this morning
He had unknowingly been ripenine
for some time on many questions; and
the revelations in this mornings pa
pers had brought him to the point oi
decision. Il wish to drive the money
changers out of the temple" he added
and glanced at Gail with a smile in
which there was acknowledgment.
"A remarkably lucrative enterprise
eh Gail?" laughed her Uncle Jim, re
membering her criticism on the occa
sion or her first and only vestry meet
Ing, when she had called their atten
ton to the satire of the stained-glass
window.
"You will have still the scribes and
pharisees, doctor; those who stand
praying in the public places. so thnv
may be seen Of all men," and Gail
smiled across at him, within her eyes
the mischievous twinkle which had
been absent for many days.
81 hope to be able to remove the
public place." replied the rector with
gravity which told of something VI
tai beneath the apparent repartee.
Mrs. Boyd, strolling past with Aunt
Grace Sargent. paused to look at him
fondly. 81 shall set myself. with such
strength as / may have, against the
building OF the proposed cathedral"
tfnnnSk hn Foolish DnxyA - karf
Sargent, who had always felt father
ly responsibility for the young rector
/ TITS big ambition and a worthy am
bition, to build that cathedral, and be.
cause you're offended with certain
things the papers have said. about
Clark and Chisholm in connection with
the church. is no reason you should
cut of your nose to spite your face.
"It is not the publication of these
things which has determined me-" re-
turned the recor thoughtfully. "It has
merely hastened my decision. To be-
gin with, acknowledge now that it
was only a vague, artistic dream of
mine that such a cathedral, by its
very magnificence, would promote wor-
ship. That. might have been the case
when cathedrals were the only mag
nificent buildings erected. and when
every rich and glittering thing was de-
voted to religion. A golden candle
stick then became connected entirely
with the service of the Almighty.
Now, however. magnificence has no
such signifcation. The splendor Of a
cathedral must enter into competition
with the splendor Of a statehouse. a
museum or hotel"
"You shouldn't switch that way.
Boyd" demonstrated Sargent, show
ing his keen disappointment. when
you began to agitate for the cathedral
you brought a lot of our members in
who hadn't attended services in years
You stirred them up. You got them
interested. They'll drop right off,"
81 hope not" returned the rector.
earnestly. 81 hope to reach them with
a higher ambition. a higher pride. a
higher vanity. If you like to put it that
way. / wish them to take JOY in es-
tablishing the most magnificent condi
tions for the poor which have ever
been built! We have no right to the
money which is to be paid us for the
Vedder court property. We have no
right to spend it in pomp. 1t belongs
to the poor from whom we have taken
It. and to the city which has made us
rich by enhancing the value of our
ground. propose to build permanent
and sanitary tenements, to house as
many poor people as possible, and con-
duct them without a penny of profit
above the cost of repairs and main
tenance."
Gail bent upon him beaming eyes.
and the delicate flush. which had be-
gun to return to her cheeks. deepened.
Was this the sort Of tenements he had
proposed to re-erect in Vedder court?
Perhaps she had been hasty! Rev
Smith Boyd in turning slowly from
one to the other of the little group. by
way of establishing mental communi-
cation with them. rested for a mo
ment in the beaning eyes of Gail and
smiled at her in affectionate recogni-
ton. then swept his glance on to his
mother. where it fingered.
You are perfectly correct" stated
Gerald Fosland, who. though sitting
stifly upright. had managed neverthe-
less to dispose one elbow where 1t
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