socialists who call
themselves ministers of God. The Church has lost ground--why? Because
she has given ground. The sanctity of private property is being menaced,
demagogues are crying out from the house-tops and inciting people
against the men who have made this country what it is, who have risked
their fortunes and their careers for the present prosperity. We have no
longer any right, it seems, to employ whom we will in our factories and
our railroads; we are not allowed to regulate our rates, although
the risks were all ours. Even the women are meddling,--they are not
satisfied to stay in the homes, where they belong. You agree with me?"

"As to the women," said the rector, "I have to acknowledge that I have
never had any experience with the militant type of which you speak."

"I pray God you may never have," exclaimed Mr. Parr, with more feeling
than he had yet shown.

"Woman's suffrage, and what is called feminism in general, have never
penetrated to Bremerton. Indeed, I must confess to have been wholly out
of touch with the problems to which you refer, although of course I have
been aware of their existence."

"You will meet them here," said the banker, significantly.

"Yes," the rector replied thoughtfully, "I can see that. I know that the
problems here will be more complicated, more modern,--more difficult.
And I thoroughly agree with you that their ultimate solution is
dependent on Christianity. If I did not believe,--in spite of the
evident fact which you point out of the Church's lost ground, that her
future will be greater than her past, I should not be a clergyman."

The quiet but firm note of faith was, not lost on the financier, and
yet was not he quite sure what was to be made of it? He had a faint and
fleeting sense of disquiet, which registered and was gone.

"I hope so," he said vaguely, referring perhaps to the resuscitation of
which the rector spoke. He drummed on the table. "I'll go so far as to
say that I, too, think that the structure can be repaired. And I believe
it is the duty of the men of influence--all men of influence--to assist.
I don't say that men of influence are not factors in the Church to-day,
but I do say that they are not using the intelligence in this task which
they bring to bear, for instance, on their business."

"Perhaps the clergy might help," Hodder suggested, and added more
seriously, "I think that many of them are honestly trying to do so."

"No doubt of it. Why