The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-08-31
CHRIST AND THE ROBBER
TRUSTS.

Clark Before s. s. Convention at
Franklinton, N. G.
Every age has it's special vices as
well as its special religious develop
ment. The past centuries were often
marked by great fame, and sometimes
great fortunes, acquired by military
triumphs. But there at least was the
redeeming feature that the despoilers
had the manhood to risk their lives
and persons on the battlefield. This
age is marked by the accumulation Of
still vaster fortunes, but it is done
without personal risk, without hero
ism, by the wholesale deprivation and
spoliation Of the masses of the people,
the creators of this wealth, in the in
terest of a few great combinations of
capital.
Do you think that if Christ came to
day He would be better received in
this so called Christian age and land
than He was in Judea 10 centuries ago9
Remember that He was a carpenter
and His apostles were poor laborers
and fishermen. Suppose some obscure
carpenter, in this day and generation,
accompanied by such companions,
should go about the country denouncing
the robberies of the rich and corrup.
ton in high places, suppose He should
say that salvation could only be had by
believing on Him, and that it was more
possible for q camel to pass through
the eye of a needle than for a rich man
to enter the kingdom of God; suppose
such an n should enter your rich
churches where the preacher reclining
on soft cushions offers incense and adu-
lation to the millionaire bondholders
gOrged with the wealth they have
Illegally wrung from the people in this
and all others of the country and with
his knotted cord should scourge those
ministers and those worshippers of
Mammon from these temples erected to
God, how would He fares Suppose He
should teach the naked gospel, as
Christ taught it, that wealth confers
not privileges, but imposes great duties
and responsibilities. Suppose further,
that when these men who daily rob a
whole people of their just earnings
shall be wont to give a hundred dollars
here, q thousand yonder, a million to
this hospital, two millions to yonder
college, and every time trey thus give
back q small part OF their stealings
they should cause every newspaper in
the land to proclaim their magnificent
generosity, and that this obscure car
penter, with his bare footed followers,
should denounce such ~hypocrites, as
He of Nazareth did, those in His day,
who in like manner when they gave
their aims had a trumpet blown before
them, and suppose that obscure man,
who was no respecter of persons, had
aroused their fears as well as their hate
by his miracles which should cause the
common people TO hear him gladly, and
what I ask would this generation do to
such a man? II it did not cruelty Him,
it would be only because Of the infu-
ence of His own teachings which in the
lapse Of nineteen centuries have given
the masses a power they did not have
in Judea. The millionaires and their
tools, the preachers that worship them,
the papers, whether church or secular,
that deity them, and all the other fol
THmo-1 NR M1T4rN1- v-NyvF3 Hr%1 NL~S1k
as those other rich men hated Him in
the coasts Of Jordan and Galilee nine
teen centuries ago, and as they to. day
really hate every one who truly teaches
His sayings in their purity, and as
these children read them IN their Sun.
day schools. Il the rich syndicates and
trusts and other robbers Of the people
of this day and their toadies and bene,
fciaries were not allowed to cruelty
Christ they would wish to do it. They
would surely hale Him into prison and
denounce Him and His followers as
anarchists, socialists, and communists.
Is not this true, men and brethren
If Christ came today who would re
ceive, and who would cruelty Him
Have you eve thought about it9 The
pure-minded little children would re
ceive Him. They did so when HI
came nineteen centuries ago. "Suffel
little children to come unto me, for Of
such is the kingdom of heaven" Their
the good women of this land would
gladly receive Him. They did it nine
teen centuries ego.
Not she with trait'rous kiss her Master
stung,
mot she denied Him with unfaithfu.
tongue.
She, when apostles fed, could danger
brave.