The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-11-24

Many methods have been devised
for getting rid Of poverty. AT this
,sry time large part OF the human
family is exercised over the problem.
The politician, tho social reformer,
,be philauthropist are busy excogitat-
inc schemes BY which our economic
conditions are TO be so improved as to
make poverty no longer B necessary
evil Among the various schemes
nroucsed we may mention, by way of
sample, "single tax" free silver"
"free trade" protective tariff, :"
prohibition" "paternalism," etc.
II might seem that the combined wis
dom of all the statesmen and philan-
tbropists Of the civilized world, with
the experience Of all past ages to draw
on ought to be able to devise some
nlap by which there could be such a
distribution Of wealth as to make des-
t;tution unknown. The resources are
ample, there is bread enough and to
snare. Poverty docs not result from
iuadequacy Of supply, but from in
/ equality Of distribution. The trouble
is 10 establish permanent connec-
ton between wealth and want 80 that
one will relieve the other. Can the
trouble ever be remedied? It mover
has been, and this is discouraging.
There wero poor people in the days of
Moses and God gave laws based ON the
supposition that there would be poor
people as lcng as Canaan was inhab-
tied. There were poor people in the
] days Of che Chriat, and He said they
would remain with us always. His
4 word has proven true TO the present.
8 and the prospect is bright for It's con-
i tuuing to be true for the future. Is
4 it not time to inquire whether poverty
4 msy not be one Of the things which
s God foreordained should come to pass,
i and for the persistence of.whioh God
q Himself is the cause! Dr. Joseph
Parker says: Poverty is not an aooi- :
j dent. Poverty has great function to
4 work out in the social scheme This
q is true. is.as.osrsainly Intended ,of
God that part. Of the population
should be poor as chat men, should
q live in communities. Poverty ;s.s-
q part Of Gods moral and social order.
4 We osn never eliminate it. Fight
! against It as we may, legislate against
q it as we will, it is here 20 stay. The
4 voice is none other than God q. which
Z .sys. 'The poor shall never cease out
q Of the land" Il ever has been, is
4 nov, and ever shall he that "a consids
a erable proportion Of mankind must
8 fare we'll, or ill, livss Or die according
i as their fellow men give or withhold
! charity. WHAT'S the meaning Of this
j Divine arrangement
9 l. It is Code method e domoa-
strating the value Of character. Men
i looketh on the outward appearance
i He is concerned about conditions,
] about having rather than being. He
I sets more store by property than nnrin-.
a eiples, puts money above manhood.
4 To correct this erring Judgment God
Ssives an object lesson. He puts
Lazarus at rich mans gate: Men
thrOng the mansion Of Dives, and Law /
sh on him their batteries because he
wears purple aad fine linen and fares
s sumptuously every day. They shun-
Lazarus and leave The insolent dogs to"
& l. llt his helnlessness, But God
turns away from the iich map, and
i writes the name Of Lazarus in His 4
family register. Thus God puts con- .
tempt on our shallow, superficial
n Judgments, and teaches aus that the !.
supreme. thing ia character and not
condition. 81 He must oft repeat The /.
= lesson and keep II ever before orr
z eyes. This is one reaaon why there
is always Lazarus before the rich
y mans. gate. We can nevee kne@
what man is till stripped of his trap.
Hpings. Dives sstFipped 5s All but char
aetcr was AM outcast from God. j Laza-
rus stripes .tss ii 81 but character was
SEATED in hdaven next to- Abraham
4 Aaod will keep the poor here to Illus
81 trate this truth which wo must learn
I0r miss heaven-namely, that the real
essence Of man Is the quality Of his /
Aidden life. II
2. 1t is Gods method Of develop
sslng character. The rich need the
poor more than the poor need che
'oh. Lazarus furnished Dives the
great opportunity of his life. What
fDives needed was an object that would
q SsAppesl to his sympathy, and awaken
,thin his heart the divine angel of:
pity Heiwas dying 81 selishnsss,
aOk in Ska e.s,s Soy n ~ ~ss,,