Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-25

EOVSTGy dG lHo DOOA
Forcibly Discussed in Sermon
Last Night by Rev. Joseph Speer.
The Conditions and Signs of the
Times Calls Forth an Eloquent
Plea from the Pastor Of the Second
PRESBYTERIAN Church-An Uprising
Feared If the Rich Do Not Ale
viate the Sufferings of the Poor
Some of the Dangers TO be Appre'
hended.
Rev. Joseph speer, pastor of the Second
PRESBYTERIAN church, delivered one OF the
strongest sermons. last night, ever
preached from a city pulpit. The subject
was. Poverty at the door Of wealth.
The sermon was delivered mostly from
manuscript. but the strongest statements
were made extemporaneously but in con-
nection with the subject. He made the
startling prediction that if the present
conditions continued that it meant an up
rising of the poor against the rich, and a
struggle for life. 1t meant the rich in the
hands of the poor, and might possibly en-
tail misery and even death TO ourselves
and our children. He said that the time
might come when the poor would lose all
Christian instincts and lay violent hands
on the property of the rich, and secure
that which means bread for them. The
TO the ordinary mortal ii has limit, etc
rs this government, is this nation lui-
filling lis duty? What is its destiny? If
history be true, there is danger in the
opulence of this nation bringing II TO de-
struction," etc Bribery and corruption
in high places may accomplish immediate
ends. but unless those ends are pern"-
nent there will be a crash. and the rich
man will find himself in hell on
earth, and the poor man will be unable 10
give him any relief from his misery II
he would"
These were few of the statements
made and show the drift of the subject.
He read an article from daily paper
detailing the great starvation that is go
ing on in Chicago-of 5000 families actu-
ally starving to death, and 10000 wives,
husbands and children begging for bread.
begging for pittance to keep soul and
body together and freezing in the biz
zard that visited that city Saturday. He
commented on This fully. and said il was
but natural for human beings TO secui,
that with which TO sustain life even IL
they had to do so at the cost Of their own
lives The following was the text Of his
sermon: Poverty at the door OF wealth.
Luke lG:1S-22. This is generally under
stood as real history, because it has not
the ordinary introduction of "a parable.
~ was spoken as "a parable: but II has
all the force of history. II has been en-
acted over and over again. is being so.
and will be so as long as history has TO
be written But let US not forget AT the
very outset that there is nothing i'm these
verses TO condemn riches. There is no
disgrace i'm being rich. 1t is not crime
nor sin 10 bc poor. / agree with what
Andrew Carnegie said the night of the
opening of the library in Pitsburg: 1T
is "a disgrace TO die rich and have done
nothing for the world
I'm this parable the name Of the rich man
is not mentioned. The Lord Jesus left it
vacant that YOU or ! nigh, mn I'm the
name. We have the name Of the poor
man. The toXt tells Of the state of affairs.
and il does more: il teaches lesson that
,...i. ,r. ~ cod aud , man Is
rich or poor. according to what ne is. not
what ne has. 1t is true that when We
meet n man and learn he is wealthy. We
envy him. Yet did we know how little
u, t''Jo' ''''
hlches can '' curse VI " - d."
coroinI 10 now 'heN are op''l''' ana
now th'E are uS''. III Is 'He ''uSo OF
richeS ana not the use "hI'n makes 'H''''
"a snare OF the devil ana curse TO man
kind. Tn" abuse OF riches IN the presence
OF poverty Is crime as We'll as SIN.
Their abuse is degrading canning;
their use uplHung. SancttElnE.
Key. Mr.. Spt,r mentioned some OF inc
abuses oil rlcheS lh history. ana r''''' T."
eh'c'NeF 10 the puylns OF N'I'''e "S
PhIlp. saying thai fhlilP uiu ho' COZ
quer greece. nui bought IL. lie spoke OIL
the SybariteS their opuience' loIIo"tH ny
luxury and disturbances, banPueis.
games and carousals. public rewards and
marks of distinction bestowed upon those
who gave the most magnificent entertain
ments. and then drew the lesson from
the result of it all. when the nation per-
ished through eiieminancy ana hceniouS-
ness.
The desire for riches alone is n SIN
Ili'our the 'r'ar desired UNIV 9''i on,
quest ne Sa'u. ne WORM - 'oo sIi. nan
ioi Du' one iiaS'1l 'oo s'',''' ~ '',I
ai''ol'io" oi s'e'' SUI az .li''N ~
Saiharcahu reply was me an'pi'IoI'S
OF a great soul IS not TO De Sa'lSl.eo win