The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-04-17 00:00:00

Icoa_ and.free the/tit:apex,.
e 12
41154pispy wbich many maii:axi,
rhaTe'' los.-

retail traders had sought to 'flake 145 for . Aeir losses.
The result was a wide breach between, customers and
tradesmen, and the remedyldithis was a deepersense
of Christian obligation on both sides. The preaches('
then spoke of the relationship of officers and nryi in
the army, and urged that it was the duty of officers to.,
endeavour to protoote the nitirilli elfaid Otto se who.werb 0
under their command. Turning then to mercantile esta-
blishmenbs and banks, he observed that there was often"
a total neglect on the part of the heads of them of any
Christian recognition of those by whose work they pro-
fitted. He had heard of banks where the partners knee.,
much of each clerk's
,priVate circumstances—where
friendly assistance wasigiven,when needed, and. where,
,when sickness existed; there was a proper allowance of
!rest from duty; but in many cases it was doubtful,
'whether the heads of the firm knew even the names of
those whom they employed. Were such things con:"
sistent with the spirit of Christianity il The preacho
went on to speak of the social,, distinction of the tent;
torial aristocracy, and of the 'exclusive feeling which
divides the members of that body, from families which
had been suddenly enriched by trade or manufactures.
It would, he thought, be a great misfortune if the
social distinction arising from high descent ceased
to exist, as that would tend to set up 20-
plutocracy without culture or other merit than,.
wealth. Let them seek to minimise the '
of social distinction. " Honour , all - wen' :
not mean "Honour all men equally.'"--The tfue" ey *
Al
surely must he found in their Lord's own example and
teaching, "self,-abasement." Let the highest positiOn
be offered, not 'claimed ; that was in accordance with.
their Lord's teaching, also with the instinct of good
breeding. Social distinction should never be an object
of desire, but when spontaneously accorded •It'shotil&
pot be refused. After condemning the coarse flattery-
often bestowed on literary and scientific men, and i
incidentally advocating the' manifestation of respec
, for them when the claims to it were well founded, the
' reacher observed that . ambition—the- ambition
, ound a family, acquire property, or gain a great 4ank4j
was not a Christian virtue, and that social elevation_
, as nowhele set forth in tbte,Bibledttin OiteAkftt,
i taleir prayers or their strividee- '" .

ften

the

•-Ana fianiT

KEEPING APPEARANCES.eete,,m
Referring to the.hir of -IlVing,7 the Pall t
makes the following sensible remarks ' . '
mule,
Among the many itenaithat help to sweUtlielcost
living, ' that of keeping up appearances," As pro-
J:ply ,the heaviest. At ' the rot of. niost, of the
wibles and many of the vices Which 'weigh on the
id:consciences of society:lies the -maggot re
At :any cost •vf. peace and comfort not
ly ...le character but the appearance of respectability
oust be kept up. Even self-respect must be sacrificed
or the respect of ethers, and this can only-be attaliticl
13 preserved by a certain style of living and dressing;
far beyond the means of the ;victims. A man
,es his wife and children beggars when he dies; the
tey he might have laid aside for them thrdugh
of toil has been spent on respectability, and no one
es him- nor:does he blame himself on his death-
but rather does he take credit for having kept up
ices to the last. When he dies, his
show their appreciation of his estimable
mct by spending the few shillings be leaves
Ad .hir- in 'giving his remains a respectable
:ral. It , may be said that this shows the
mate vulgarity." of the English character,—and
; perfectly true that .there are many persons who
,e no excuse whatever for looking or attempting to
: respectable; but, on the other hand, there are
my others to whom " appearances " are a matter of
Ante necessity. Take, for instance, the case of a
;rk in a house of business, or a shopinan who stands
mind the counter. If either of these were to dress
the, free-and-easyand comparatively cheap style of
Acing man, he would at once lose his situation and
me penniless. Yet there are many mechanics who
larger salaries than either clerks or shopmen—,eat
better food 'gild Jattoketheedoitr incire cothfchitible'
lives; for their households ere not conducted .on

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