The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-12-28

are questions we must all consider.
But, in the meantime, every individ-
ual can add to the purity and honor
of the city by keeping himself pure
and honorable. Do not wait till the
curse is removed. Keep myself from
sin, and the curse will be removed,
all the more quickly. We need pre-
ventive and regulative statutes, in
deed; but, better than the law which
goes down in the statute book. is that
which is written in the soul of the
individual, Touch not, taste not,
handle not-that which defiles!"
Ehac one has his own responsibility.
If it were in my power to change the
situation by a word, to put out the
baleful lights that lure unwary feet,
to close the doors that lead to perdi-
ton, how gladly and quickly would
that word be spoken! But, in the
meantime, what? That depends upon
the individual. What is he going to
do? If the fires of temptation blazed
forth, like the furnace in the Scrip
ture legend, with seven fold hotter
flame and ferceness than now, it
would be your duty and mine, like
the valiant Hebrews of old, to walk
unscathed through the flames, led
triumphant by the Son of Man. In
awful solitude, every soul stands for
itself in the presence chamber of Je-
hovah.
Ill. THERE is YET ANOTHER REASON
WHY WE EvADE RESPONSIBILITY, ILLUS
TRATED IN THE CASE OF PLATE: THAT IS,
SELF INTEREST.
When we turn back to the account,
we read, "Pilate sought to release
him: but the Jews cried out, saying,
IF thou let this man go, thou art not
Caesars friend: whatsoever maketh
himself a king, speaketh against
Caesar When Plate, therefore,
heard that saying, he brought Jesus
forth"
That was the keeuest thrust of all.
Can man do right when it interferes
with his pocket? How few can see
justice or righteousness with clear
vision, when self stands in the way!
Who can give the other mans side
fair hearing? Many of the social
problems that confront us might be
settled if Plate did not fear for his
place and power and gains. Over
and over again is Christ crucified in
the persons of the poor and unfortu
nate and helpless.
The slums with their crowded
tenements and filth are not a neces-
sity. The sweating system, with it's
unspeakable outrages, is not neces-
sity. The gist of it all is here: the
most miserable and wretched tene-
ments pay the largest rentals in pro-
portion to the money invested; the
poorest paid work, in shabby rooms
where Gods sunlight, is stranger
and where Turk the demons of disease,
sowing the seeds of death, yield the
largest proportionate returns. The
saloon is not necessity. 1t is here,
because it pays some one in dollars
and cents, to destroy manhood! These
breeding places of vice and crime,
that endanger our modern civiliza-
ton, are kept in existence simply be-
cause the disciples of Plate in these
days, fear, as did their master of no.
toriety infamous. for their personal
interests, and hold these dearer than
the peace and safety of society.
But retribution comes-slowly, it
may be, but resistlessly. Every
evaded responsibility returns to tor
ment the coward soul that refused to
bear it. We have no trustworthy
history of Pilates subsequent career,
but the most probable traditions tell
us that he finally ended his own life.
Stripped of his procuratorship very
shortly afterward, on the We charges
he had tried by wicked concession
to avoid, Plate, wearied out with
misfortunes, died in suicide and
Punishment, leaving behind him an
execrated name" Not always in
such awful shape does retribution
come; but the ghosts of our neglected
duties, specters of our lost opportun-
tiles, thoughts of the good we might
have done and would not, will at
last fling their accusing shadows
across the soul, and fill us with bit
terness and anguish of spirit. Rest
securely, o Plate, in thy palace.
Thou hast kept thy place and favor
with Caesar, and hast sent the de-
spised Galilean to the cross! But
that decision of thine will unthrone
thee at last. 81 have seen the wicked
in great power, and spreading him
self like green bay tree; but he