The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-21
SIGNS OF CITY POVERTY.
Rev. Mr.. ViIIers's Sermon at First
BAPTIST Church.

Rev. Thomas ]. Villers, of the First Bap-
fist Church, asked his people yesterday
morning to bring offerings of clothing and
provisions to the church next Wednesday
for distribution on Thanksgiving, and at the
close Of the evening service asked for con-
tribution for the city poor His evening
topic was Living Signs of City Poverty"
Among other things he said:
THE truest benefactors of the poor are
those who teach self-help. Not aims but a
friend, is wise motto for philanthropists
The giving Of aims is often equivalent TO
the making of paupers. A friend cultivates
self-help, and so preserves self-respect. This
is the laudable aim of our Charity Organiza-
ton Society. Within the past year friendly
visitors have made 63,579 visits, inducing
working people to save from their earnings
NI749. Through the Dime Savings depart
ment many who were once dependent on
others have been trained to Sef-Support
In Benjamin Vests picture of Christ
Healing the Sick Peter is represented with
averted face, holding his nostrils, from fear
OF contagion. This is a misrepresentation.
The touch of the Master was perpetuated in
the life of the disciple. Silver and gold he
nad none, but such as he Rad he gave. At
the temple gate, called Beautiful in the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Peter
TOOK the lame man by the right hand, and
ankle bones received strength. A Christian
hand-graspNhas enabled many another Grip
pie TO stand upon his feet.
Think not, however, that such benef-
cence releases us from giving. Advice with
out works is dead. mans tongue should
never be any larger than his hand. If a
brother or sister be naked. and in lack of
daily food, and one of you say to them, Go
in peace, be We warmed and filed and yet
ye give them not the things needful for the
body, what doth it profit? This church be-
neves In the gospel of barley loaves. Our
numerous organizations have been busy
raising money. collecting food, making gar
ments. Everywhere our tireless missionary
and sympathetic deacons and godly women
have gone, distributing these benefactions
The Volunteers Of America read the words
OF Jesus, When thou makest a feast, call
the poor, the MANNED the lame. the blind
and at the Christmas tide fed fifteen hun
dred such. The Rescue Mission, reading the
same words, fed on New Years day eleven
hundred more, and within the past twelve
months have furnished the needy with fif-
teen thousand meals. Time would fail me
to tell of the Flower Mission, the Children's
Homes, the Homes for Aged Poor. the Door
OF Hope, the Friendly Inn, the Workroom
for Women, and the other churches fruitful
In golden deeds The poor. said Dorner, are
communicate. said Paul, forget not, for with
such sacrifices God is well pleased
The highest good that we can do the
poor is to evangelize them. A man familiar
with our city. poverty told me that scarcely
one out of a hundred of those whom his So
ciety had visited and aided are ever attend
ants upon the churches. Christianze men
and fill them with the practical ethics of the
gospel and poverty will largely disappear
The first convert in the Rescue Mission five
years ago was drunken pauper. He be-
came new creature in Christ Jesus AS
soon as he began to shape his life accord
ing to gospel principles he began to pros
per. That man now owns a home in this
city, conducts successful business and has
a happy family. At the same mission two
weeks ago a poor German, who had been
drunk for nine months. besotted and dirty
with whisky sores breaking out over his
face. besought God for deliverance. A
Christian st worker began to speak with him
but he said; You yust let me alone I bray
init God for myself He did bray and
with a. shining face arose, saying: / belief
the Lort do safe me- This has been his tes-
timony every night since, as he has come
with clean face, brushed clothes and combed
hair out of wretched home a drunkard
drove his little boy. 1t was home of pow
erty. supported by the wife. The gospel
touched that mans heart. No sooner was
he saved than he began to pray and search
for the child whom he had cruelty kicked
cut into the world. News reached him that
his daring was dead and buried He went
to the grave in Connecticut. and from
strangers learned that his boy had died a
Christian That father is now collector for
a large firm. His family are housed in com
fort. though across the hearth lighted by
the glow of home JOYS there fits now and
then dark shadow from that little mound
far away Let us carry TO Christless homes
the blessed gospel message before such
eraVeStOneS are erected. -