The Washington times., 1894-04-15
those whose big ships show sails right to the


mast
Some Of us have no ships to sail. We just
hoat on the great ocean of life aud we are
reaching out for plank or spar to save our
lives. What does Mr.. and Mrs. Millionaire
know about that unless they have once been
of the people? Yes, most likely that is where
they did start from, high as they now carry
their heads and sniff at the contact and dis
content of the people Have they forgotten
everything2
There are plenty of good people who be-
lIeve In God and righteousness who have not
been inside of a church for months
Awful. isn't it?
Stop, let US see. Everybody who attends
and belongs to church these days is ex-
pected to contribute to its support, for If not.
the backbone of church life is broken, as
money is its ribs. and II can no more live and
do its work without money than a gentle
mans club can exist without it.
There is great deal too much OF worldli-
ness, and fine dressing, and ''style," and
fashion in the pews, and the people who are
caught on the wave of hard times have neg
lected their religious duties, because they
could not pay their pew rent or make special
offerings, or even seem to see the contribu-
tion plate when it was right under their noses
And this is the bottom facts in regard to
much apparent religious apathy.
The people have as much pride as the
grandest communicates and SO much style"
has very depressing effect, even upon those
who should be making the responses and
saying their prayers. for eyes and thoughts
will wander when things seem so unequal.
When religious life-in achurch-is so costly
1t has to be classed as a luxury In ones in
ventory Of possibilities and cut off as a su-
perfiuity under the stress Of hard times.
l tell you there is something radically
wrong in the administration of the churches.
One of old said: 1.-The poor We have always
with you," and He came and ministered unto
them, while He rebuked the rulers and mighty
ones of earth for their GOODNESS and hardness
of heart. What would He say here to-day?
The churches and those who run them are
beginning to realize that church life is pitched
in a falsetto voice, and ministers more to the
ei g and cultivated taste than 10 the needs OF
humanity.
Here and there church is struggling to
put itself in vital sympathy with the masses.
who need it more in their trials than when all
goes on smoothly.
The earth literally trembles with the social
conditions Of the times, which we feel and
wonder over with amazement, questioning
one another, Where are we going to land?
Everyone of US hopes to land somewherei
We want to live a complete life and to have
the value of our service return to US some
way. II is our birthrightl
We would not mind the pinching for the
the present if we could see CLEAN of light
ahead Believe me- there is light ahead
"Plain living and high thinking" is just
as good a thing now as it ever was; and those
who hold their heads up and feel just as good,
though they have to twist and turn old
clothes to be respectfully clad, are the ones
who are going to win il
II what?
II the economy Of the good wife is matched
by the economy of the "gude man.
II he does not smoke and drink enough in
money value each year to have made such
economy unnecessary-if he had denied him
If these selfish indulgences So many IFS
See?
If is not very big word but it is an express
sive one when applied to our manner of life.
Well who cares?
We have been all Of us economizing to the
extent Of our ability for a year, or it may be
years. Nor are we one Of US, bit ashamed
of it,
Numbers of US will be better, stronger.
thriftier men and women for the hard lessons
OF 1898 and 1894. for we are not through yeti
Some OF US will even find the secret of sue
cess in them, folded up like the germ of rare
flower.
We are not going to groan or cry or mako
an ado about the inevitable outcome of our
bad social conditions, but we are going to try
to do our level best to make them better and
TO get hold of and hang on to the big end OF
our troubles until We have shaken the old life
out OF them and the new life into the place of
them. AUNT EMILY.