“A good many men have been Christians for many years, and yet have not come to see the true motive of missions,” said Mr. Carew.  “It is singular how the most fundamental principles may be most ignored; I suppose somewhat as a man thinks less of the foundation stones of his house than of what he finds inside it.  But in spite of this if a man has really a heart for God, when the matter is clearly presented to him he responds to it.  God’s purpose must find an ‘amen’ in his heart.”

“That is true,” said Hubert.

Presently they left the parlor, still talking together earnestly of God’s will, and inadvertently drifted into the great auditorium.  Mr. Carew glanced about at its finished elegance.

“Perhaps,” he said to Hubert, “they think this instead, is doing the will of God.  I daresay they have read that the house Solomon builds for God must be ‘exceeding magnifical,’ and they think so must this be.  And, indeed, the spiritual antitype of that house must be beautiful!  It ‘groweth into a holy temple in the Lord.’  And the work of missions is gathering its ‘living stones.’  But this—­the New Testament breathes no word of instruction concerning this material house!  Ah, if I were to write a general confession for our church I should say:  ’We have left undone the things we were told to do, and we have done the things we were not told to do, and there is very little health in us!’”

Hubert smiled at Mr. Carew’s words, but felt their force.  He ventured to remark:  “This building does not look as though there were lack of money among us.”

“Oh, no!” said Mr. Carew.  “Oh, no!” He repressed his lips, as though fearing to say more than would be courteous.  But presently he spoke again in general terms.

“The church at home,” he said, “has largely forgotten her pilgrim character.  She has put off her sandals, and loosened her robes for luxurious living instead of girding them for service and pilgrimage.  As to display and indulgence at home, she says plainly, ‘I am rich,’ but as to the carrying out the will of God entrusted to her for the world, she is pitifully poor.”

They were emerging from the stately auditorium, and Hubert bethought him to look for Winifred.  They met her in one of the rooms with Mrs. Greenman.

“Oh, Mr. Carew,” said the latter, “I was looking for you.  Our ladies appreciate so very much your talk to us!  I hope—­”

Winifred and Hubert were now speaking together and did not hear more of the President’s remarks.  But before they left the place Hubert had sought Mr. Carew again and had asked him to call at his office the following day.

“I should like to talk with you further concerning your business,” he said.

He used the word “business” absent-mindedly, and Mr. Carew smiled, not at all illy pleased with it.  Hubert was thinking of an investment.

CHAPTER XVII