St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-11
THE HARD TIMES.
An Appropriate Sermon by Rev.
William Wilkinson.


Wilkinson preached at St. Andrews /
church. The larger part of the sermon
was devoted to the hard times through
which We are passing.
He said: II read in a recent religious
newspaper a structure upon minister
because he had preached upon hard
times. Ii was not because he had
done this in a way which was wrong,
but because he had done ii at all. 30
far as l am concerned l wish il known
that. in my Judgment. a minister
whose only interest is in the
next world cannot leave this too
soon and take up his abode in the home
of his affections. The times are hard.
They have 10 DO with all classes ana
every walk of life. They make 1t hard
to maintain churches and get money for
the charities 10 help the poor, ana 90
those Offices of love for which all re
ligion stands. Ii is a question worthy
the best and most prayerfui thought OF
our hottest and wlSest men, how nave
the times come to be what tDey are!
How may we pass through them.
and make better ones IN their
place? Depend upon it the teachings
of Christ will help Us into the light ana
if we will practice what we learn. 10
abide in prosperity 1t is no use 10 lay
the blame upon government, the poIlIl-
clans Of any or ali parties. The respon-
sibility does not rest there We are IN
circumstances which are as truly Tue
results of our conduct as the tides ebD
and flow by fixed law. We have pop
ulation who, as a rule and as whole,
are eager in pursuit OF money. Mixed
we are in character, and of the great
est possible variety IL Intelligence
from The nobiest culture known 10 men
TO the densest ignorance outside the
savage state. Mixed in race, religion.
| hope, aims, ideals. and with self ever
| dominant in the MIND Of vast number
/ of men in all ranks SO far every man
| must agree. Is II then any wonder thai
| men have placed their seeming personal
| interest above that of the public good.
the general welfare? w whether II Is
wonder or not. II is fact. Let US
begin with the men who have 10
| buy labor. and give all which
can by justice, yes, by charity, be sad
| for them. Many do acknowledge the
| responsibility of wealth. the rights OF
| those who work for hire. They are and
want TO be noble, just. generous. They
! do treat those who work with every REQ
! uisite consideration. Such men are
| the glory of their class, its salt, It's con
t SEWING DONC1s anu I-S hAAl-o. WV
| for the other side. alaSi There are not
few men whose first, midst and last
question is, when they have to hire
labor. for now little wages can get
| men. and how much work can ! make
them do. and how large q proni
can l make? These employers are the
bane of their class, Its curse ana dis
grace. Meu of this stamp do harm
another way: harm which can never II
words be told. In their intense desire
and rapid haste TO grow rich, they resort
10 every device they can invent OF
which they can pay others to invent FOL
them, TO gain advantage over men en-
gagged in the same business. It IS their
study by day. and thought by night, TX
make things appear What III fac
tney are not. and SO takt
in the simple. to get money ou
of other mems pockets into their Own
The men employed know all this They
are not mistaken IN their estimate o.
the ROBUSTNESS of 1t. Now lock at tn;
man VINO works; DO justice 10 him II
his class. There are men, not few
. / who make il pride and pleasure TO Oh
good service; who will not waste time
or material: who do not scamp work
whose one desire is to be competen
and faithful: who look upon capital a
their friend. and respect 1t; who know
| we'll that capital to labor Is a
needful as light is to the eyes
and that labor is TO capital
if II is 10 be used, as needful as rain !
TO springtime; such men are the 10.
and pride of any nation. The who'll
, truth is not told till Ii Is said tina
! amongst working men there are man
VINO drink. waste time anu material, Wn
e scamp work. do ii as easily, Quickl
q and ineXpertly as possible. who ar
: never content. VINO look upon capita
as an organized enemy OF work. VII
: are ever in ill-luck and lay the blam
: upon any person except themselves
, VINO say labor Is oppressed, an
:, abused ana dOwn-trodden. who adYo
cate what they call the rights OF ma
a and their equality. not knowing or Cal
q ing to understand that Tor them n
+ legislation. trades union or arIlncls
conditions can ever make and kee
q them on a par with the thrifty, exDeri
honest. sober and self-respeeting MAI
r Whether we do or do not understand
J. il is the tyrant in capital and the II
= competent and unreStful IN labo
+ who have made. and who kee
the Office OF demagogGe IN fac
y and vino have made sucn state {
y chronic diStrust that new enterprise
= ar present impossible. When labor
! honorea and Justly rewarded. whe
capitaI can be made secure, and I'M
n equitable employment, We shall I'm
! that the work Of rightness is peace, il
# effect quietness, its result prosperity
the good of all IpeD. The public la
! can do much 10 help us, 10 do1b
Silver bills, tariff measures are IN
portant: but virtue. honesty, deft wori
: intelligent direction, fear OF Coz
love. which shows Its eXisteae
in blessings 10 men, viii max
hard times pass away as nothin
else can DO. All this is the direct GU
Il come of the teachings OF Christ whe
!. they are Alright explained and put IL
: the daily duties Of life by men, wheth'
= rich or Door. employer or employed