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
very time large part Of the human
family is exercised over the problem.
The politician, the social reformer,
the philauthropist are busy excogitat-
ing schemes by which our economic
conditions are to be so improved as to-
make poverty no longer . necessary
evil. Among the various schemes
proposed we may mention, by way of
sample, 'single tax 'free silver,
"free trade protective tariff, >
prohibition" "paternalism," etc.
It might seem that the combined wis
dom of all the statesmen and philan-
thropists Of the civilized world, with
the experience Of all past ages to draw
on, ought to be able to devise some
plan by which there could be such a
distribution Of wealth as to make des-
titution unknown. The resources are
ample, there is bread enough and TO
spare. Poverty does not result from
inadequacy Of supply, but from in
equality Of distribution. The trouble
is to establish a permanent connec-
tion between wealth and want SO that
one will relieve the other. Can the
trouble ever be remedied? 1t never
has been, and this is discouraging.
There were poor people in the days OF
Moses and God gave laws based On the
suppositiop that there would be poor
people as long as Canaan was inhab-
ited.s There were poor people in the
days Of Che Christ, and he said they
would remain with us always. His
word has proven true to the present,
and the prospect is bright for its con-
tiauing TO be true for the future. Is
it not time to inquire whether poverty
nsy not be one Of the things which
God foreordained should come to pass,
and for the persistence Of which God
Himself is the cause. DR.. Joseph
Parker says: Poverty is not an acci-
dent. Poverty has q eatfunction TO
work out in the social scheme. ;" This
is true. Itis.as certainly intended Of
God that part, Of, the population
should Be poor as that mens should
live in communities. Poverty is a
part Of Gods moral and social order.
We can never eliminate it. Fight
against it as we may, legislate against
it as we Will, it is here to stay. The
voice is none other than Gods, which
says, aThe poor shall never cease out
Of the land" It ever has been, is
now, and ever shall be that q consid-
erahle proportion Of mankind must
fare we'll, or ill, live or die according
as sheir fellow men give or withhold
charity. What is the meaning OF this
Divine arrangement?
l. It is Gods method Of demon
et-,t;nr the value of character. "Man
looketh on the outward appearance.
He is concerned about conditions,
about having rather than being. tie
sets more store by property than prln'
ciples, puts money above manhood
To correct this erring judgment GOD
gives an object lesson. He puts
Lazarus at a rich mans gate: Men
throng the mansion Of Dives, and law
ish on him their batteries because h:
wears purple and fine linen and fares
sumptuously every day. They shur
Lazarus and leave the insolent dogs tc
insult his helplessness, But Goo
tuPns away from the rich man, apc
writes the name of Lazarus in His
family register. Thus God puts. con-
tempt on our shallow, superficial
Judgments, and teaches US that the
supreme thing is character and not
condition. He must oft repeat the
lesson and keep it ever before oul
eyes. This is one reason why there
is always a Lazarus before the rlcf
mans gate. We can never know
what man is till stripped Of his trap
pings. Dives stripped Of all but char
acscr was an outcast from God. Aaza
rus stripped Of all but character wa
seated in heaven next to Abraham
God will keep the poor here to illus
trate this truth which we must learl
or miss heaven-namely, that the rea
essence of man is the quality OF hi
hidden life.
9. 1t is Gods method Of develop
ing character. The rich need tn
DOOR more than the poor need tn
rich. Lazarus furnished Dives tn
great opportunity Of his life. Wha
Dives needed was an object that woul
appeal to his sympathy, and awake
within his heart the divine angel Q