The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-05
THE MODERN pIIARlsEE.
fiouri.hrA Tr -day just u, lie DID In
thrlsrs Time.


II Christ should come upon this
earth in person once more he would
Ind many more pharIsecs proportion
ate to tho population thun when he
| was here ana denounced them for their
| sins Of omission md commission, says
the Now York Advertiser. lie would
| ma them now, M OF yOrc, occupying
| high sCnts IN tho synagOEur, making
broad their nhylRctcrlCs. robbing wild.
| 0ws' houses and for n pretensc making
long prayers, lie would lind them
making the outside Of the platter no
clean ~ to he radiant, while within
they arc like unto ravGning wolves
Tho modern phnriscc Is no improve
ment upon the ancient one. although no
may wear more fashionable clothing
| and 1.-Two IN Il more comfortably nrrang-
cd house and dine from II much more
varied mcnL re stili wears the ddor
Of snnctlty. tyCn " he doth not possess
the substance, and most " ha leisure
time Is spent thanking God that he Is
not like other men.
He believes In a Christ. hut II Is one
dressed In purple and fine llnen2 ono
with whom he In IN n perfect social
and business egualIty-nay, even Il lit
lie superior to, pIrhaps, S the vessel
often outshlncs thu cunning potter who
formed IT, He believes In the Crosg OF
Calvary, but II II made Of sandal wood.
splced and fragrant and cleaning with
precious stones. He helievtu In the d.
vine sacrifice, hut with II wrll-furmcd
Impression TINT Il waS rather All CXOlu-
slvc affair. designed for an exclusive
circle Of which he Is the central and
much admired ornament
He hplInyag In ik4 rnafttsrnpetpp to
almost entirely satisfied that It's power
and glory will be exercised only over
those whose wealth. has enabled them
to be laid away IN costly mGu,Olcums,
much more grand and imposing than
Che average dwelling-placr If the llv-
Ing. II" believes In u lloAren. but Its
features to his mind blend harmon
lOsly with the swell receptions and ban
1ucts THAI lie is In the habit VI attend
ing.
So the modem phariscc looks out up
on the world and condemns II and up
on himself and sees that all Is fair. lie
charges some poor widow two per cont
Il month for 4 loan on her furniture
and Is thoroughly satisfied that sail
widow Is on the broad road to holl be-
cause on hot summer day sh. takes
her children to the park instead Of or-
cuDyinc n back seat in his church. eS-
pecially prepared f0r the poor 10y hav-
Ing no cushions on the seats
Six days In the week does he follnw
the devil rs closely as he can without
getting too near the pcnitcntilry and
on the seventh day he sits IN cuSh-
ioned pow and Ierls n glow Of sweet
and precious peace surlharEc his veins
MS well-Ha!d pastor CoEsiSns to utter
darkness those who cannot believe that
1t was n creed and not a fatted calf up-
an which the prodiEal son frastnd
He gives $1,000 10 send the bible To-
some alleged heaihcE 10000 miles away
aad buttons up his pocket with
frown when ihc bcgcar at his own
gates holds out Il SauRt and pleading
hand.
Such is the modern phar!sec. vainly
muu;hlGE things very Icag 10 the
hearts of humanity and casting disrc-
pute by all his actions upon the cause
OF Him who said: Il am meek and
lowly."