St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-01-25

and in the nick of time sells out, makes
a half million or so, when the whole
thing collapses, and the incautious peo-
pie who invested, never dreaming of
deceit, are out of pocket of their hard
earnings. Now, said operator gives
thousands to send the gospel to the
heather, and wins praise for his benev-
Olence in all the churches. Whose
money did he give? tell you offer
ings laid on the altar of God must be
clean, and your own, or they are an
Paul says to the Ephe-
slams, "Let him that stole, steal no
more, but let him rather work with his
hands, that he may give to him that
needed" | wonder il there were any
of those Ephesians who gave in charity
part of what they had stolen, and
thought it was all right.
EXTRAvAGANT LIVING ANOTHER vIo-
LATION.
". There is another practice that ]
would like to see rightly named-liviug
beyond ones means. 1t would seem
requil ement of honesty that one should
not spend on himself and family beyond
what capital he has on hand, or reason
ably assured income would warrant.
He who does it is certainly using some
body else's property for the time being,
with no certainty of being able to pay.
1t is sort of forced loan on dealers
who furnish the goods, with no guaranty
against ultimate reputation. Yet there
are many, of perfectly honest intent,
who live on carelessly without really
asking whether they are not consuming
more than they can afford to, eating the
bread to-day which must be earned to-
morrow, if at all, and making no con-
tingencies. | am aware that lay down
IL rule here to which there are possible
exceptions. Misfortune in the past may
make it necessary for man to discount
future earnings in order to live to-day.
But nothing less than the most rigid
economy is required in such cases. No
man has quite cleal moral sense who
is content to live ahead of his income.
Careless extravaganza is sure to be i'll
debt to somebody in the end. Paul
says, "Owe no man anything" and i'll
the sense in which the phrase was used
it is the only precept which is cQnsO-
nant with the spirit of the eighth COM
mandment.
PAUPERISM AND BEGGAKY.
V. Unnecessary subsistence on char
ity is a violation of the right of proper
ty. When there is no other way to
subsist, as in the case of persons dis
ahled in body or mind, or children in
their infancy. whom their parents can
not or will not support, then there is il
claim enforced by nature, pity, aud as
1. hn
Sistance of those who have the means.
TO shut up ones hand in the presence
of real need, is proof that the love of
God is not in us. With this exception
the maxim, 1.-The world owes us Il liv
img,n is false. When God creates IL
mouth, lie also creates two hands to
feed it, and the world owes no able
bodied man living unless he earns it,.
Mortality requires every man to earl
his own bread. TO loafers hanging
about the ThessalOnicau church, eX-
pecting to be fed without labor because
they had got religion, Paul wrote, at
any man would not work, neither should
he eat" God has given every one II
place in the world, and ii chance to live
if he will toll and sweat for il. Some.
to he sure, come by birth into posses
sionS wherein they bestowed no labor.
Others lahored, and they have entered
into their labors. To the poor this is
often an occasion for discomfort. But
no man has ii right to complain if life
and the freedom of industry are secured
to him, and no himdrances are put in
his way to have and enjoy the wealth
his labor creates. Whoever combines
to depress unduly wages and withholds
from the hireling his share of the pro-
duets of labor, steals. Slavery is steal
ing. Overreaching monopoles or tax
ing advantage of the ignorance of men
to diminish the earnings of labor, al e
stealing. But give the workman his
hire, protect the rights of labor from
oppression, and then it is every mans
business to earn his Own bread and the
bread of his household. If he does not 4:
if he ueglects to work and provide for
his own, or spends more than he earns :;
if he wastes his earnings jim vicious
indulgence, so us to become a pauper,
he trampleS on the rights as well as i'm
poses Oh the generosity of the public.
1t is time that the immortality of the
able-hodied pauperism was understood.
What right has an idle spendthrilt sci
of vagabOnds to feed at every tax
payers expense What right have
marauding tramps to scOur the country,
subSisting on free or enforced charity
Give them work and make them work
This is the duty of society to this class
of people. 1t is better for them. can
wear ragged clothes and live on a crust,
and be a man. | cannot eat another's
bread, when | can earn my own, with
out losing my manhood. You will not
understand me us cOunselling unkind-
ness, or disOwning of the obligation to
feed the hungry and clothe the naked.
no matter to what wrong is due their
state of destitution. But there is Il
question of morality here which ought
to come under the eye of conscience.
All classes should see that unnecessary
subsistence on the labor of others is a
sin. The only honesty is in spending
your own, and giving to the world IL
fair equivalent for what you have. He
who does this gets living. He who
does not, steals. 1t was maxim among
the Jews, "He who does not teach his
son Il trade, brings him up a thief
Parents ought to see the Importance of
educating their children in some useful
employment whereby, if the provision
they hope to make for them fails, they
can pay their way, and in any case fit
| their children to contribute something
to the wealth of the world, without do
ing which it is neither manly nor Chris
tian for any one to live.
sUNDRY VIOLATIONS OF THE COMMAND
MENT.
Extortion, usury, (when oppressive
plundering municipal treasures, with
holding damages which the law does