The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-01
CULTS OF SEPARATION.


Rector Garrett breaches Upon the Par
able of Dives and Lazarus.
Atst Marks church, yesterday morning, the
rector, Rev. D. c. Garrett, preached on the Cos
pei for the day-the parable OF Dives and Lag
arus, illustrated by the text, "And beside all
this, between rs and you there is q great gull
hxed'-Luke xvi:26 The sermon, as usual, was
entirely extemporaneous The first thought
elaborated was the condition OF the rich and the
poor here and hereafter. Dives stands as type
OF the well-to-do, who careless Indifferent OF
the needs Of others, while Lazarus represents
the unfortunate portion of mankind. The re-
versing OF the positions Of the two in the life to
come was not the result OF any arbitrary enact
ment on the part OF God, nor does 1t imply that
all the rich and all the poor shall receive like
Judgment. Dives was not punished for being
rich, but he paid the penalty of his own willful
neglect of the duty be owed his fellow men
Likewise Lazarus was not rewarded simply be-
cause he wss poor. but because he deve oped
through his poverty certain qualities OF heart
that brought him TO the place OF repose and hap
piness in Paradise. The parable emphasi yes the
great principle that men make their own gulis,
separating them from others both in this lie
and the future.
There is a law OF God that like seeks like and
all who form similar dispositions naturally tend
to the same place. The worse conception oil
future punishment 10 10 be compelled TO I'VE
with those whom one detests, as man hates MS
own evil self. Here in this world there Is
gull often separating one from those nearest 10
him by every natural tie. Two may dwell In
the same house, sit at the same table, and yet,
between them there may be wide abyss. 1t Is
sin that disintegrates and holiness unites
man who is impure or dishonest is separating
himself from the pure and the true; when open
shame and condemnation conironts one the
gulf is fixed.
There is a separation, too, that force OF en-
IT. y.n& mas hOy,n 4
have reversed in the next world. Many are
compelled by the varied experiences OF lie to
be less with those with whom one would choose
to be the most In this far Western country are
many seeking new opportunities, between
whom and dear ones in the old home great
gulf is fixed. Men overburdened with business
cares are kept apart from their families, and
home is Swallowed by this forced separation.
And yet all this the heart still hopes to see
closed up II not here, at least in heaven those
who are truly destined by sympathy OF heart
and mind to be united shall know no longer any
gulf between them.
The epistle for today containing Johns
epitome OF love, human and divine, presents
solution for the problem portrayed in the
Gospel.
The gulf between the rich and the poor seen
so often in the difference between employer and
employed would be done away with II both
sides-capitalists and iaborers could realize
and fulfill the royal law of Jesus-"Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as myself" The breach that
is found In many Observation-Disclosures
alterations between husband and wife, parent
and child. friend and friend, would exist no
more il the spirit of today's epistle- love-couid
find an abiding place in the family life. Even
sin could have no further power to widen hearts
If love reigned as queen. And love shall bridge
even the space that now keeps far apart lives
that by every principle of God should be to-
gether In love shall all who dwell in God and
God In them be reunited-if not here, surely in
the better world where love shall conquer and
holiness be triumphant.