The Ordway new era., 1916-03-03
CHAPTER XVIII.
Rev. Smith Boyd 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 II was stormy affair. with
loud voices and clashing wills and a
general atmosphere Of tensity, which
was somewhat ct variance with the
red-ro5ed 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 "lf Market
Square church has mission. 1t is
the responsibility for these miserable
human wrecks whom We have made
our wards
I'VE can't feed and clothe them"
objected Banker Chisholm, whose
white mutton chops already glowed
pink from the anger-reddened skin be-
meath.
cit doesn't pay to pauperize the
people," supplemented Willis Gun
ningham. strokins his sparse Vandyke
complacently Cunningham. whose
sole relationship to economics con-
sisted in permitting his secretary to
sign checks. had imbibed few pr:n-
ciples which sufiiced for all occasions.
II do not wish to pauperize them"
returned the rector. Il am willing to
accept the shame Of having the city
show Market Square church It's 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 "If 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 1t will not come into that
neighborhood."
Are we compelled to make
profit?" retorted the rector rs 1t nee
essary for Market Square church to
remain Derpetually a commercial land
lord?"
The vestry gezed at Rev. Smith
Boyd in surprised disapproval Their
previous rector had talked like that.
and Rev. Smith Boyd had been a great
relief
so long as the church has property
at all. 1t will meet with that persistent
charge" argued Chisholm. TT 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
No.. he objected: for the Van
Ploon millions had been accumulated
by the growth of tall office buildings
out Of worthless Manhattan swamp
we should never sell the property
There are dozen arguments
against keeping it, returned the nasal
voice of old Joseph @. Clark. THE
chief one is the necessity Of making
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. ~
II object to this entire discussion.
he stated. 1--WE have a moral obliea.
tion which forbids US to discuss mat.
ters Of Investment and profit within
these walls a. II we were a lard trust
We have neglected our moral obliss,
ticn in vedder court. until We are q
blackened With sin = the thief on the
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