The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-02-18

policy Of sep1diation Ard dishonos.
Remember how such stssngs and IN
Christisn-iike uttsranc<s were praised,
sxiroiisd. appIauded, and heraided
over the country By the hireiings and
oropoIy press. Remember how, IT
the same time, any preacher who dared
TO plead for scd uphold the cause Of
humanity IN the pulpit WAS ridiculed
and denounced - . man who wa
dragging the Church into politics.
Te SC reflections are called forth By
the pulpit Itterances Of . number
Of New York preachers for the
last few Sunday mornings about The
nuch-;aiked OF Bradley Martin ball.
xhich was such an elegant and mag
nifeent affair, costing n very large
amount Of money. The very preachers
who seemed TO be most shocked 1t the
large expenditure Of money which
was made for this ball are the very
same preachers who championed the
side OF monopolies and the gold ring.
they are the very rame preachers who
defend and uphold the infamous and
chewing methods by which Kockefel-
Ter and the Standard Oil Company
have built up most oppressive trust.
destroyed every competition business
~
from the struggling poor, and who
slush over with fulsome praise and
hold up Rockefeller as a great philan-
thrOpist and Christian gentleman
every time he donates a little of his
blood money to build church or to
increase some preachers salary.
We are glad to see the Bradley
Martins spend their money since they
have gotten it, because it puts it in
circulation again, and will be sure to
help some one. We are glad to see
Rockefeller spend his money, since
he has gotten it, and are thankful for
all the good it may do, but this does
not close our eyes to the infamous
methods by which he rings this money
from the masses of the people, nor
can it make US endorse or be salts
fed with the tyrannous and criminal
social and industrial system which
makes such things possible. How can
the Church approve Of such system,
though it gets a pittance of the booty.
Was Robin Hood deserving the ap-
plause OF the Church because a part of
his spoils went to the poor?
The last campaign was a patriotic,
Christian Like, and gigantic effort on
the part of the people to correct the
social and industrial evils which have
made it possible for a quarter Of
million dollars to be squandered in
single social ball, while quarter of a
million people within sight of the
same are begging for work and suffer-
ing for food and clothing. Yet, dur
ing the last campaign, when there was
an opportunity, and a gigantic effort
was made by those who believe in liv-
ing up to the doctrine and principles
taught by the lOwly Nazarine-thOse
who believe that he did right when he
drove the money changers from the
temple, those who believe that when
the people ask for bread they should
not be given a stone-yes, during the
last campaign, when an opportun-
ity was presented to remove the
cause of our present social and
industrial evils and to put the
eternal truths OF the Christian
religion into practical operation, these
same preachers were siding with the
money changers and helping them to
pollute the temple, while they no
doubt shared in the ill-gotten and u.s.
uriOus profits. Now, with the hypo-
crisy of Judas they attempt to cover
their crime by calling attention to the
squandering Of money over society
balls while the poor are increasing in
number and in need. The time has
come for the people to draw distinc-
ton between the good and the bad, in
the pulpit as well as in the legislative
halls OF the country. Let that part of
the press that is still free and indie
pendent have the courage to tear the
mask of hypocrisy from these So call
ed preachers who prostitute the livery
the Church to assist monopoly and
greed to Cypress the people and dis
poll the land. The way to remove
this evil is to remove the root of the
evil. The present social and indus
trial system which breeds such re-
suits must be changed. Let the
Church make haste to take a stand
either on the side of God or Mammon.
Let the preachers who are converted.
who are Christians take the lead in
separating the sheep from the goats.
The PROMINENT POPULIsrs" OF