The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-13
MASONIC TEMPLE.
RICH AND rooE IN THE LIGHT OF coMMus

RICH AND PooR IN THE LIGHT OF CoMMUN-
IoN-sERMoN BY MR.. FRoTHINGHAM.
Mr.. 0. B. rockingham discoursed on tho relative
positions and duties OF the rich ana poor classes in
society at tho Masonic Temple. In the course OF his
observations no said that the cry OF poor one OF
the Oldest cries earth. It echoed through ages
and nations Of past times angrer, hoarscr ana
louder than now. II comes to from fields of
insurrection; from the prosecuted. revied and OPP
pressed of all Tho fact that II is more
univertny echoed than 1t was formerly Is proof OF
moro Universal sympathy among mankind than
marked past ages The sufferings OF society felt
In all climes and among all races, because all
one human family. Depress single class OF men and
women and the other class at the opposite aide OF
the hemisphere feels Il.
WHO ARE POOR?
All are poor and all ricn said tho preacher, for
all share common fate; all arc subject TO tho same
principles OF natural economy. Once men could deano
poverty; but 1t the distinguishing feature OF
days that no definition now BIO made that would
people out Of tho category. In Illus
said he was passing rich on forty pounds year"
But who calls himself .'passing rich' now on ten
times shorty pounds yearf" Wealth and poverty
arc constantly going up and down that there
definite dividing limo between them He is rich who
has what he has without the need Of laborng Tor y;
and tho poor man, whatever his income may be- is he
who depends upon hts labor for II. Tho poor man
must &c 10 his ONCE; ispinned 70 APPOINT; must plan
day. Who. asked the speaker, Is so rich
AS to DO without the care OF labor Of
physcai or inteecsuoiY He asserted that such
people could be counted ones iugcrs, and added
that hey are OF no as majors ~ inc
world Is now paradise compared to what IL was one
hundrcd years ngo and said It was idle 10 talk about
between different orders OF society when such
distinct orders exist TO make the fight He illustrated
this idea by telling tho neurological story OF how
Apollo challenged Jupiter to shoot arrow with
him, and that alter Apollo had shot the world
Jupiter, standing on the brink Of II, asked wnere
he should shoot, and who would be the Judge between
them Tho love OF tho late Theodore Roosevelt for
tho poor now pathetically dwelt upon. and tho
question asked IL Peter Cooper, rich man. but from
whose iDeraly the poor reaped more opportunities
up out Of their obscuriy than FROM any other
source in this city, was 10 DO Killed because he was
rIcnf
Is It tho cry for breadY Indignantly asked Mr..
Rockingham. That. no asserted, could be very easily
answered IL Is the cry Tor fancy cakes that rings in
tho peoples ears and that cannot be so easily an
swered There IL food enough Tor all, and II 10 u
shame that any should want bread In New
YORK The cry Is, however, not SO much Tor bread az
times short and intervals whom really honest
industrious men cannot hnd an opportunity to labor
or bread 10 II not the cry for light, remunerative,
gen teel worklnbor that does soil the hands or
tire tho brain-that 10 wantedf For those who arc
determined to work at what they nd with hands,
body and brain, TIL something better comes along
| tho problem IL simple. There Is work enough for
| those who want work; but Tor those who want the
nings Of work without the toll OF earning there
always will be, there always ought to DO difficulties;
there should be place in The weird for them. is
not tho cry q shout Tor privileges, lnc bread and
luxurousy furnished housosf Inns is tho cry Of the
| Communists.
| ORGANIZED RELIGION TO BLAME
contend argued tho speaker, that organized religion
| has taught these men the idea OF demanding tho
things which they Imagine arc monopolized by what
! they deem the privileged classes. lilo claimed that
the poor taught to believe that Providence watches
over them with SPECIAL care. The Church promised
them giories hereafter, and the state thcy THINK was
bound to give them comfort here. Now, all this 10
changed Tue science O. lie teaches tba, u mon want
anything they must get II themselves here; and as
| for the hereafter, that ~ uncertain, and those
who want crowns must win them 10 this life. Ii 10
the old cry again Tor crowns 10 BIO bestowed here not
In the uncertain hercaiter-a cry that oud have
| been entertained but Tor the thousands OF years.
teaching Of old established forms Of religion. IL IL
tho decline OF religious sentiment, rcgionsts
believe, That raises the cry, and IL must bc conceded
that when the Church becomes intelligent educa-
tor It will hep the progress Of society. The cry must
now be patiently listened TO- not beaten down re-
pelled for spirit of threat from either above be-
low disastrous Threats OF the leaders OF opinion
through the press are wrong. Let everybody be
heard and let CONCESSIONS, IL they wanted be made
on hofh nj