The Rev. Adoni Bourdalone rang the door bell at St. Paul's rectory, for the greatly desired interview with his Bishop, who was fortunately at home and not engaged. The Bishop's greeting was courteously affable and expressive of paternal solicitude. He was an elderly man, tall and spare, with dignified and scholarly aspect. His exalted position and material interests served to increase his self-complacency and his satisfaction with the 'God of things as they are. He was consistently opposed to innovations and progressive ideas, and had it not been for Adoni's renown as a healer, which imparted something of the miraculous atmosphere of the early Christian church to his diocese, he would have required Adoni's resignation long ere this. Those wonderful cures, however, were a spiritual asset not to be ignored. Hence, his tolerant indulgence toward, what he termed Adoni's ultra-progressive-ness, and his expedient policy of seeking through persuasive measures to bring this refractory disciple again into line.

On this occasion Adoni took the initiative, and without beating about the bush, came directly to the point.

"I scarcely know, Bishop, whether you will be glad or sorry to learn that I have resolved to resign my charge, and my last sermon from the Episcopal pulpit will be preached next Sunday."

The Bishop gazed at Adoni with complete surprise.

"I am extremely sorry to hear you say this, my son, as I fear you are acting somewhat rashly, and that you should not allow yourself to be governed by hasty impulse in so grave a matter."

"I agree with you, Bishop, and assure you that I am acting only after calm and careful deliberation. For three years I have considered this matter, and I feel confident that further delay would be a fruitless waste of time, dishonesty to the church - and disloyalty to myself."

"In my judgment," remarked the Bishop brusquely, "you would be showing more loyalty if you were guided by the advice of your spiritual superiors."

"That is not sound Protestant doctrine, Bishop. All protestantism advocates liberty of conscience in deciding religious questions, and protests against ecclesiastical interference with the right to worship and follow the dictates of one's soul."

"I am not arguing against the freedom of thought when I advise you to be guided by the calmer and riper judgment of your elders, which would be merely ordinary prudence."

"There comes a time," replied Adoni, "when prudence ceases to be a virtue. I can assure you,

Bishop, that on many previous occasions, I sought counsel of my colleagues and spiritual advisers, but none of them, yourself included, have succeeded in harmonizing my conviction with the life and duties of an Angelican minister."

"In what way, my son, do your ideas conflict with our holy teachings?"

Adoni answered slowly:

"You will pardon me for not entering specifically into the various doctrines of faith which I do not possess. However, I honestly assert that the spirit of modern Christianity lacks sincerity; it is committed to the policy of commercialism, where under the hypocritical mantle of religion, man does not worship God, but Mammon."

A challenging expression flitted across the Bishop's features. "You forget, my son, that in our present times, the church could accomplish nothing without money. To ignore its material blessings in this commercial age would be suicidal, indeed. How else could the church spread the gospel or engage in its manifold charitable enterprises?"

"If the church had fulfilled its holy mission; had contended for justice between man and man, instead of permitting the rich and powerful to rob the poor at every turn, there would be no necessity for so much debasing alms-giving. It is useless to pretend that it is solely for charitable purposes that the church is so much concerned. The enormous expenses of our magnificent temples of worship, where the congregation, clad in costly raiment, chants to a ten-thousand dollar organ on Sunday, are preposterous. On the morrow these same devotees practice ways and means of getting money, raising often most cruelly the price of actual necessities, thus bringing about the very conditions which make charity necessary."

"But the church does not advocate such dishonest practices, and admonishes its children against the sin of avarice and covetousness."

"Well content, merely to 'admonish., It is easier to say what ought to be done, than what shall be done. Easy to say, 'Lord, Lord,' and do the works of Mammon. Does not the living God despise such half-hearted worship? What to Him is your lip service if you neglect the work of establishing his kingdom on earth - The 'Kingdom of righteousness?' "

"Without money, how can we establish it?" asked the Bishop.

"By ceasing to make friends with Mammon - and the spirit of greed that rules the world. What did Jesus mean when he said: 'Ye cannot serve God and Mammon9 and 'Lay not up for yourself treasures on earth V Did he not identify himself with earth's lowly and down-trodden? Was he not filled with sorrow and indignation at the bigotry and blind Mammon worship of Jewish piety? like the man of Nazareth, I can not reconcile these things. Where God rules, there rules the energy against injustice; there wealth ceases to sun itself in the miseries of the poor. Shall not the same God that rules the inmost hearts of men also change the outward aspect of their lives? And if the spirit of Christ dwells in the hearts of Christians, shall the church continue in iniquity? What kind of love is it, that will only bind up wounds, but never prevent them? What kind of faith which holds out the hope of future reward for present injustice, rather than risk the displeasure of its wealthy patrons by word and deed, never taking a decided stand to make things right, here and now?"

The Bishop sat in speechless perplexity as Adoni ceased, abruptly to speak. It was impossible not to be impressed by the forceful argument and fiery zeal that burned in the younger man's eyes with convincing evidence, which in spite of himself, the Bishop could not deny, and with awe was moved to a profound respect for the fearless and uncompromising young zealot.