The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-02-27


holding I'm theory at least) the
equality and common brotherhood
of mankind. A historic statue
stands in Park square, Boston,
Mass. 1t represents Abraham
Lincoln lifting his hands IN bless
ings over the kneeling form of a
negro, from the arms and feet Of
whom have fallen the broken chains
of slavery. This picture in bronze
is simply a tangible illustration,
natural outcome of PauPs idea of
"brother." We who accept the
gospel message have but one mas
ter-Chrlst Jesus, our Lord.
Owing to the diversity of gifts
and the naturally differing DISPOSE
tions of man, even if the Christian
idea of the brotherhood of man
were fully realized, there would still
exist the distinction of rich and
poor. Paul was "instant in season,
out of season." in laborlng for the
good of both classes. He not only
preached to the poor, but he also
preached for the poor. He rebuked
covetousness, arrogancY, pride, sell
fishness and laziness the prime
causes of poverty. He spoke
against the rich man who ground
down the face Of the poor. Above
all by preaching and proving the
poor man is a brother to the rich,
and pleading for a brothers treat
ment. Paul has furnished a solu-
ton to the vexed question of the
rich and poor which is agitating
civilization to-day. This solution
does not consist in gracious bene-
factions on the one hand and a
cringing receiving on the Other,
neither is it found in anarchy nor
social equalization, nor community
of goods, none of these so called
reform measures have yet fathomed
the problem. When we come to
recognize every man as our brother,
and when we learn TO love our
brother as ourselves, and when we
realize that to wrong our brother is
to wrong ourselves, the rich and
poor problem will then be settled
upon a Christ-like and Pauline
basis.
This short epistle also suggests a
solution for another great question
which is just now prominently be-
fore the peoples Of all clvilized'lands,
viz: the labor question, or the rela-
ton of employer and cmploye. In
these days of uneasiness and unrest
and even distrust between these
natural partners, when selfshness
seems to predominant both classes,
when pride and arrogancy charac-
terizes the one. and anarchy and
discomfort are apparent in the other,
when strikes and lock outs are of SO
frequent occurrence, when the red
flag of the socialist, the torch and
destructive bomb are abroad, 1t is
high time that lovers Of humanity
and civilization as we'll as lovers Of
Jesus seek earnestly for a trut
solution of this great problem, anC
certain it IS that we can find ne
higher authority than the words o:
Holy Writ, no better solution cal
be found than in knowing ant
obcying its teachings. But doe
the Bible speak definitely upon thi
subject of capital and labor? AS
surediy it does. Paul says, it i
true, Servants obey your masters,
but he also adds, "Masters, pro
woke not your servants to wrath
knowing We have one master whicl
is Christ" The question after al
is not, how many hours shall tn
worklngman labor, nor how mucl
per cent. Of the profits shall h,
receive, but that men shall love on
another. This love is not to b.
confined to the churches alone, no.
on Sundays, neither to the lodg
rooms nor secret fraternities. but i
must 6c a practical everyday com
modify shown on the streets, in tn,
shops, at the market place, in bus
mess, in society, everywhere. |
is objected that all this is visionary
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