And Mr. Curtis subsided and took no further part in the discussion.
“The church cast out Jesus!” went on Samuel, taking advantage of the confusion. “And it was the rich and powerful in the church who did it. And he used about them language far more violent than I have ever used. 'Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites!' he said. 'Woe unto you also, you lawyers!—Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?' And if He were here tonight He would be on my side—and the rich evil-doers who sit on this board would cast Him out again! You have cast Him out already! You have shut your ears to the cry of the oppressed—you make mockery of justice and truth! You are crucifying Him again every day!”
“This is outrageous!” cried Mr. Hickman. “It is blasphemy!”
“It must stop instantly,” put in Mr. Wygant. And Samuel knew that when Mr. Wygant spoke, he meant to be obeyed.
“Then there is no one here who will hear me?” he exclaimed. “Mr. Hamerton, won't you help me?”
“What do you want us to do?” demanded Mr. Hamerton.
“I want the vestry to investigate these charges. I want you to find out whether it is true that members of St. Matthew's have been corrupting the government of Lockmanville. And if it is true, I want you to drive such men from the church! They have no place in the church, sir! Men who spend their whole time in trying to get the people's money from them! Men who openly declare, as Mr. Wygant did to me, that it is necessary to bribe lawmakers in order to make money! Such men degrade the church and drag it from its mission. They are the enemies the church exists to fight—”
“Are we here to listen to a sermon from this boy?” shouted Mr. Hickman furiously.
“Samuel, leave this room!” commanded Dr. Vince.
“Then there is no one here who will help me?”