“Mr. Winter, this whole affair is a matter of the most profound principle with me.  As long as I live I shall believe that a Christian man has no more right to rent his property for a saloon than he has to run a saloon himself.  And as long as I live I shall also believe that it is a minister’s duty to preach to his church plainly upon matters which bear upon the right and wrong of life, no matter what is involved in those matters.  Are money and houses and lands of such a character that the use of them has no bearing on moral questions, and they are therefore to be left out of the preaching material of the pulpit?  It is my conviction that many men of property in this age are coming to regard their business as separate and removed from God and all relation to Him.  The business men of to-day do not regard their property as God’s.  They always speak of it as theirs.  And they resent any ‘interference,’ as you call it, on the part of the pulpit.  Nevertheless, I say it plainly, I regard the renting of these houses by you, and other business men in the church, to the whisky men and the corrupters of youth as wholly wrong, and so wrong that the Christian minister who would keep silent when he knew the facts would be guilty of unspeakable cowardice and disloyalty to his Lord.  As to your threat of withdrawal of support, sir, do you suppose I would be in the ministry if I were afraid of the rich men in my congregation?  It shows that you are not yet acquainted with me.  It would not hurt you to know me better!”

All the time Philip was talking, his manner was that of dignified indignation.  His anger was never coarse or vulgar.  But when he was roused as he was now he spoke with a total disregard for all coming consequences.  For the time being he felt as perhaps one of the old Hebrew prophets used to feel when the flame of inspired wrath burned up in the soul of the messenger of God.

The man who sat opposite was compelled to keep silent until Philip had said what he had to say.  It was impossible for him to interrupt.  Also it was out of the question that a man like Mr. Winter should understand a nature like that of Philip Strong.  The mill-owner sprang to his feet as soon as Philip finished.  He was white to the lips with passion, and so excited that his hands trembled and his voice shook as he replied to Philip: 

“You shall answer for these insults, sir.  I withdraw my church pledge, and you will see whether the business men in the church will sustain such preaching.”  And Mr. Winter flung himself out of the study and downstairs, forgetting to take his hat, which he had carried up with him.  Philip caught it up and went downstairs with it, reaching him just as he was going out of the front door.  He said simply, “You forgot your hat, sir.”  Mr. Winter took it without a word and went out, slamming the door hard behind him.

Philip turned around, and there stood his wife.  Her face was very anxious.