Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1874-12-09
The Rich Mans Chance for Heaven

The ordinary reader Of the Sacre
Scriptures is apt to regard in its liter
sense the declaration Of Christ, "Th.
it is easier for camel to 90 through ii
eye of a needle than for rich man
enter into the Kingdom Of God"
expounding this text the clergy also Al
ply it in its literal sense. rs means
inducing liberal contributions to Il
church and various charitable object
without regard to what is understood
have been the meaning and applicable
Of the expression at the time aud age
which it was used. They iuferential
assert that the rich man isdebarred fro
all chance Of entrance into the kingdo
Of Heaven. because it is virtually il
possible for a camel to 50 through Il
eye Of needle ergo, wsshould all t
to be poor if we desire Il escape fro
everlasting punishment.
~ + is mostly the moral. hone,
sober, industrious ana rtsk..a........;,, i
aye who accumulate wcalK Tie sc-,,. !
should be that if we hope ID ontd dppa 4
Kingdom Of Heaven we Apnst -; -
all energy and industry and i,
day provide for itself, ''takino
for the morrow" We have per :
this harsh sentence explained :
pulpit, and as some of our reado
have accumulated a good share IA
worlds goods may feel liaryot aU -
subject of their future chances
be right and proper to ifford the
the relief in our power. slt seems j
there were a species Of narrow gnts
the wall of Jerusalem called
eye, ]" and that it was through thySas
not the vcritablc eye of q needle I
camel was to find it 50 difficult 10 -.
Then, again, the rich man of that d. d.
was the old Roman grandee wbos
wealth was the product of rapine ~,
plumber, and not the fruits of indnstn
or Of commerce. 1t was an age Of 6li
busters, when nations lnbbed nations
and the strong oppressed the weak; whc
wealth was seldom accumulated Inv III
sweat OF the brow or tie workings
the brain. The text is applicable, there
tore, only - those OF tne present Ga
who accumulate wealth dishonesty, Z
by grinding the face of the poor. VIII
have no bowels of compassion for til
poor and unfortunate, the sick and need,
who hoard ana worship money as the
god, and fail ITO lay up for themscly,
treasures in Heaven, where neither mot
nor rust doth corrupt, and where thicvt
do not break through and steal
The rich man who builds ships an
mills and houses, and keeps the whcc
# Industry in motion, does more ooo
in his day aud generation than if i
gave half Of his wealth to the poor /,
discriminate almsgiying, as human i,
ture is now constituted, bcgets indolen,
and vice, and does more harm tban ooos
II his wealth is 50 used as to rive i,
ployment and good living wages 70 i
feilow-man, the rich man is a pIilantl,r,
plst, and may be a good Christian :
though he may 60 on accumulatino
the close Of his earthly careor N
millionaire who gathers Ills wo,ltL !,
pile, and only uses it 10 loan Al usnr;o,
rates Of interest and taking unfair !,
vantage of the necessities Of his fello
man, may, however, fi1I thc came
and the needles eve" applicable to hin
self when death compels him TO close l
his shaving shop Johns Hopkins was
very wealthy man. and although n
famous during his lifetime for charit,
50 used his money as to doa vast amou,
Of good in his day and generation. II
gave employment TO thousands of Ii
fellow men, and was foremost ii all q
tcrpriscs that were calculated to promo
and advance the prosrosity Of the eli
and State. He labored for the accou
plishmcnt of a great work Of philal
thropy, and regarded himself as tru
tee. having devoted his wealth to
specific object. He made little or
profession Of religious conviction, b
he did much more good in this wor
with his wealth than he could possib
have effected had he gone to the grave
poor man Mr.. Hopkins was not a sair
but we are inclined to doubt whether
will find that his having been rich mi
will be rcckoned against him at the iud
ment day.
1t is generally admitted that in Il
country and in this industrial age no mi
| possessed Of health and strength has t
right to be dependent on others. If
obeys the Scripture injunction to "ea
his bread by the sweat Of his brow"
will have no occasion to geek airns al
charity from the faborious and mdust
Gus. The right way of aiding the po
is to give them work and insist up
their doing it. The lazy and idle a
Incorporate ought not to be encourage
and we sometimes think that indiscrin
nate charity is sin against both G
and man. Let the wheels of indust
be kept in motion by the rich man, fai
living wages given to his employees,
kindly care extended to the widow a
orphan, the aged and the sick, by {
ganized charities, and the rich MAJ
chance FIR heaven is likely to be mu
better than those who drag along throu,
the world leaning upon others for mai
tenance. Laziness is a sin and crn