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. Andrew
church. The larger part of the sermon
was devoted to the hard times through
which we are passing.
He said: II read in recent religious
newspaper structure upon a minister
because he had preached upon hard
times. 1t was not because he had
done this in way which was wrong,
but because he had done it at all. SO
far as am concerned wish it known
that, in my Judgment. 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 E.
They have to do with all classes and
every walk of life. They make it hard
to maintain churches and get money for
the charities to help the poor. and do
those offices of love for which all re-
llgion stands. 1t is a question worthy
the best and most prayertui thought of
our hottest and wisest men. How have
the times come to be what they 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, and
If we will practice what we learn, to
abide in prosperity. 1t is no use to lay
the blame upon government, the politi-
clans of any or all parties. The reSpon-
Siblllty does not rest there. We are in
circumstances which are as truly the
results of our conduct as the tides ebb
and flow by fixed law. We have a pop
ulatl0n who, as rule and as whole,
are eager in pursuit of money. Mixed
we are in character, and of the great
est possible variety in intelligence
from the noblest culture known to 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 it then any wonder that
men have placed their seeming personal
interest above that of the public good,
the general welfare? Whether it is
wonder or not, 1t is fact. Let us
begin with the men who have to
buy labor, and give all which
can by justice, yes, by charity. be said
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
u,
serving power. and its kings. Now
for the other side, alas! There are not
a few men whose first, midst and last
question is, when they have to hire
labor, for how little wages can l get
men, and how much work can ] make
them do, and how large a profit
can l make? These employers are the
bane of their class, Its curse and dis
grace. Meu of this stamp do harm
another way; harm which can never in
words be told. In their intense desire
and rapid haste to grow rich, they resort
to every device they can invent, or
which they can pay others to invent for
them, to gain advantage over men en-
gagged in the same business. 1t is their
study by day, and thought by night, to
they are not, and SO take
in the simple, to get money out
of other mems pockets into their OWN.
The men employed know all this. They
are not mistaken in their estimate of
the ROBUSTNESS of 1t. Now look at the
man who works; do justice to him in
his class. There are men, not a few,
who make it pride and pleasure to do
good service; who will not waste time
or material; who do not scamp work;
whose one desire is to be competent
and faithful; who look upon capital as
their friend, and respect it; who know
we'll that capital to labor is as
needful as light is to the eyes,
and that labor is to capital,
if it is to be used, as needful as rain is
to Springtime; such men are the Joy
and pride of any nation. The whole
truth is not told till it is said that
amongst working men there are many
who drink, waste time and material, who
scamp work. do it as easily, quickly
and ineXpertly as possible. who are
never content, who look upon capital
as an organized enemy of work, who
are ever in ill-luck and lay the blame
upon any person except themselves;
who say labor is oppressed. and
abused and down-trodden. who advo-
cate what they call the rights of man
and their equality. not knowing or car
ing to understand that for them no
legislation, trades union or artificial
conditions can ever make and keep
them on par with the thrifty, expert,
honest, sober and self-respecting man.
Whether we do or do not understand it
it is the tyrant i'll capital and the in
competent and unreStful in labor
who have made, and who keep
the Office of demagogue in fact,
and who have made SUCH a state of
chronic distrust that new enterprise is
at present impossible. When labor is
honored and justly rewarded, when
capital can be made secure, and find
equitable employment, we shall find
that the work of rightness is peace, its
effect quietness, its result prosperity to
the good of all men. The public law
can do much to help us, no doubt.
Silver bills, tariff measures are i'm
portant; but virtue. honesty. deft work,
intelligent direction, fear of God.
love, which shows Its existence
in blessings TO men, will make
hard times pass away as nothing
else can do. All this is the direct out
come of the teachings of Christ when
they are Alright explained and put into
the daily duties of life by men, whether
rich or poor. employer Or employed.