The times., 1890-12-05

st. Luke XVI:S: The children Of this
iCOrid are In their generation aciser than
the children Of light.
The truth of these words spoken by Christ
i'm the parable of the unjust steward, is often
exemplifed in practical life. In secular
business men are diligent, earnest, untiring,
enduring self-denial, submitting to hard
ship, so that they may accomplish the result
aimed at They make their business known
by many ingenious devices. They add to it
the cOnveniences of discovery and invention.
They make it attractive by light, color, taste
full arrangement of fabrics and wares-the
design and splendOr of art and decoration.
They often employ The aid of music and
games. They secure the necessary help to
meet the wants of customers, and do their
work as it ought to be done. In every way
they adapt means to ends.
They have no idea that they can prosecute
their various enterprises without a liberal
investment of money, and they all act upon
the common sense principle that enough
money must be put into the business to
make it successful. When one man has not
capital enough he associates others with him
and forms partnerships and corporations.
Talent and experience, education and special
aptitude are combined, that the money in
vested may be put to the very best use and
not squandered and lost.
This is the ordinary wisdom of the child
rem of this world III their generation. 1t is
not the ordinary wisdom of the children of
light. We all know how christian work is
carried on. Men are not correspondingly
earnest about it, are not as willing to deny
themselves and endure hardship for it,
They are not ingenious and untring to make
it known, to attract others to it and make
them interested i'm it. There is never help
enough. There is never money enough.
The work that is imperative is not done for
lack of men and money. Skill and eXpendi-
ture to attract, to satisfy by ever present
convenience are rarely employed. There
are not the needed agencies to work with
and means are not adapted to ends. There
have been ten factories built in Owosso since
there was one church. Our churches for
structure and adaptedness do not compare
with our shops and business houses. There
is not parish building (as great a need to a
church as is machinery to a factory or shelv-
ing or counters to stOre) in the city.
There are perhaps five manufacturing estab-
lishments here, any one of which has more
money i'm it than the cost of all the churches
put together. There are beneficiary lodges
by the score and christian men fill them up at
eachmeeting who attend church services with
conspicuous irregulanty. There is only one
distinctly christian institution i'm Owosso.
outside of the churches and it lacks means
and help to extend the work as it would be
glad to do. There is present demand for
others, especially hospital and the Associ-
ated charity organization. Men ask why
the church does not do mOre-why it is not
tor In, a itvO Ic, ,ntt ba
answer readily found IN the facts ! have set
forth above? There is no adequate coop
Grafton of human instrumentality with the
Divine Power.
There are, in OwOsso, 16 saloons repre-
senting a large capital and active effort.
They have many customers and are an evil
influence in the community. They are
made inviting to those who visit them.
Many efforts have been made by good peo-
pie to diminish their number to draw men
away from them, and to shut them up ell
tirely. They have great advantages on their
side. Why do men visit houses where in
toxicating drink is sold? The eXhilaration
of drink and the depraved taste for intoxi-
cants that is speedily acquired are great in
ducements. The drink appetite is the liq-
uOr-seller's great advantage. His customer
becomes his slave; he finds that he can't
keep away even when he wants to, he alien
ates himself from other friends, ceases to be
useful as an employe, and the saloon is his
only asylum. But other men go to the sa-
| loon because there is light, warmth, attract
| i've furnishings and genial company there
| TO them the saloon with its always Oper
door supplies social want and this want
in men must be met. The single man, aftel
his hard days work finds the saloon door.
alone open to him. lie there meets Others
and is social over drink the free lunch ant
his pipe or cigar. Furthermore, the marrow
cheerless homes of many send them to the
saloon where there is more brightness ant
comfort. 1t also becomes meeting plac,
for common interests, the workingma,
meets his fellows and the talk runs on wha
they all know about and are interested in
However 1t comes about, the second grea
advantage of the salOon-keeper, next to tn
drink habit, is the fact that so many have N
other comfortable place to visit and spen,
an hour but his house. Not long ago, an
told. one of our saloon keepers threw open
rear room to farmers and farmers wive
doing business in town, to meet an appar
ent want. Another advantage the saloOl
keeper has are the so-called respectabl
drinkers. They give his business pecuniar
support and standing 1t would not other
wise have. They are the power behind tn
throne who orenderpowerless the effortsmad
to suppress him. Another advantage is tn
sad division of his opponents and the wa
they perplex and defame each other.
There isa principle in all reform, that
you would rid yourself of bad thing, tn
best course is to put good one In its place
1t is but half work to expel sin from tn
heart unless you invite the Holy Spirit to er
ter and occupy its place. There Is no doul
that If there were as attractive and comfor
able resorts as the saloon, iDitho,t its dri,I
and with an ever open door and warm we
come to the visitor, many who now frequer
drinking saloons would go there. AS
probable suppostion, this ought TO win col
sideration; but we are not confined to prol
ability. The plan has been tried and prove
a success.
One of the main features In the work
the Church Temperance society as counte
active agency, Is the establishment of publ
coffee houses TO take the place of the sa0o
Sometimes the building occupied Is rente
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