The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-01-25

synd;cateS and trusts to rob the people.
and they who gather where others have
SoWu. would be foremost among those
who would cruelty Him. For it was He
who said il and we know that His say
ing is true that 4 rich man can no more
enter into the kingdom Of heaven than
a camel can pass through the eye Of
Il needle. This saying may offend some.
Ills sayings did in Ills day and many
left off following after Him"
The great evil Of this day is the wor-
ship of wealth, and it makes no matter
to its w0rshippers that we know that
every vast estate is necessarily accllnll-
lated by robbery Of the peopIe-for there
is Il moderate limit III the nature OF
things to the accommodations which can
be made 10y diligence and thrift and
economy and honest industry. The free
opuortunity for honest accumulations IS
the glory of our institutions, but these
vast estates are not made in that way.
They are made by processes which
should conSien their holders rather to
our pcnitentiaries. Their very size
proves they are not honest accumula-
lions. Was Christ the Son Of God: He,
said that such rich men could in no
wise enter the kingdom of God. II it
was true when He said it. it is true
today. The SO-calIed ministers Of God
who pardon such offenscS because Of the
gift of a small part of the sums stolen
to colleges. to churches and sometimes
to tn" ministers themselves. are no whit
better than the sellers of indulgences
who Luther scOUrged out Of Germany.
Our people are being robbed by
wholesale. They do not receive the
just rewards Of their labors. They are
being paupcrized and kept in want while
Il few men by trick and combinations
are gathering to themselves the earnings
Of Il continent. Yet how many ministers,
how many church papers are dtn0unc-
me- the robbers and the wrongs as the
Master did, and as it is still written in
His word? How many indeed are pur-
suing an opposite course? | condemn no
man. Let each ones conscience answer
him..
Search all history and you will find no
age when robbery of the just earnings
of the masses was more systematic, more
shameless and less resisted than to-day.
There was never Il time when the WOr-
ship of great riches. however badly ac-
qnirea, Wis more open than nOw. While
the pure in heart are c~ommuning with
the invisible Go on the summit, amid
clouds and darkness that are round a
bout Hin. vast numbers. and among
them. lis of old. many LeyiteS, are bow
ing down to the Scalf of Gold. and they
say to rs. ''IheSe be thy God O Israel
When Moses and Joshua reproachel
Aaron with his conduct, he Laid fault on
the people and said that to please them
he had thrown the gold ornaments into
the fire and there had come out this
calf implying that it was accidental
Though he did not dare to say so), and
that he was in no wise responsible. SO
in this country. in which the public opin-
ion of to-day can become the law to-
morrow. they who like Aaron do not
enlighten it. but on the contrary. with
out resistance to the robbery of the peo-
ole. bow down to those VINO have taken
away their earnings. in effect say with
the idolitors of old, 1--WE did not do it:
we merely east the gold into the fire"
or permitted it to be done. and 'there
came out this calf; hence we are not
to blame for worshipping it. For my
part. | believe that something more
is required. and that resistance to wrong
is obedience to God.
WALTER CLARK