The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-01-25
THAT'S WHAT THE CORRUP-
TIONISTS AND THEIR TOOLS
WOULD Do.
The Little Children, the Good Women and
1.-The Common People, Would Gladly
Receive Him as They Did Nine
teen Centuries AGO.
Centuries Az.
CThc New T'imes.)

Every age has its special wees rs its
special religious developments. The past
centuries were often marked by great
fame. and sometimes great fortunes ac-
ouired by military triumphs. But there
at least was this redeeming feature that
the desI,oilers had the manhood TO risk
their lives and person on the battle
field. This age is marked by the accum-
ulation Of still vaster fortunes, but ii
is lone without personal risk. without
heroism. by the wholesale deprivation
and spoiIation of the masses of the
people-the creators OF this wealth-in
the interest of Il few combinations of
capJtaI.
DO You think that if Christ came to-
day He would be better received in
tliS 50 called christian age and land
than he was i'll Judca nineteen centuries
ago? Remember that He was Il car
penter and His apostles were poor Ia
'borers and fishermen. Suppose some
obscure carpenter. in this day and gen
Grafton. accompanied by such comFan-
ions. should go about the country de
nounciug the robbories of the rich and
corruption in high places: suppose
he should say salvation could only be
had by believing in him and that it was
more possible for Il camel to pass through
the eye of Il needle than for a rich man
to enter the kingdom of God; suppose
such Il one should enter our rich
churches. where the preacher. reclining
on soft cushions, offers incense and
aduIation to the millionaire hondholders,
gorged with the wealth they have IL
legally wrung from the people, and
with his knotted cord should scourge
those ministers and those WOrShlperS OF
Mammon from these temples erected TO
God. how would he fare! Suppose he
should teach the naked gospel as Christ
taught it, that wealth conferS no prlyl-
le@e: but imposes great duties and great
responsibilities. Suppose further, that
when these men who daily rob Il whole
people Of their just earnings had been
wont to give Il hundred dollars here.
Il Thousand yOndeT. Il million to TINS
hospital. two millions to yonder college.
and every time they thus give back a
part of their stealings they SHOULD
cause every newspaper in the land to
proclaim their magnificent generosity.
and that this obscure carpenter, with
his barefooted followers, should de-
nounce such hypocrites; as He of Naza-
reth did those in his day. who, in like
manner when they gave their aims, had
Il trumpet blown before them; and sup
pose that obscure man who was no re-
4pecter of persons had aroused their
hate by his miracles, which should
cause the common people to hear him
grady. and what, [ ask, would this gen
Grafton do to such a man.? If it did not
cruelty him. it would he only because
Of the influence of his teaching. which
in the lapse of nineteen centuries have
given the masses Il power they did not
have in ,Judea.
The millionaires and their tools, the
preachers that worship them: the pa
pprS, whether church of secular. that
defy them. and all the other followers
of Mamm0n would hate Christ. as those
of other rich men hated Him in the
coasts of Jordan and Galilee nineteen
centuries ago and as they today really
hate everyone who truly teaches His
savings in their purity. If the rich
syndicates and trusts and other robbers
Of the people of this day and their
toadies and beneficiarics We're not al
lowed to cruelty Christ they would wish
to do it. They would surely hale him
into prison and denounce Him and His
followers as anarchists, socialists, and
communists.
Is not this true, men and brethren?
If Christ came today. who would re
ceiye, and who would cruelty Him:
Have YOU ever thought about it? The
Dure-mindeI little children would re-
ceiye Him. They did SO when he came
nin@tecn centuries ago. suffer little
children to come unto me for of such is
the kingdom of heaven" Then the good
women of this land would gladly receive
Him. And so they did nineteen cen
turtles ago.
Not she with traitorous kiss her Mas
ter stung.
Not she denied him with unfaithfu
tongue
She. when apostles fled could DANCE
brave,
Last at His cross and first at His
grave"
There are dancing daughters Of He
rodian AMI other women wrapped up II
self and doceitfulneSs of riches now il!
then, but now as then all good womel
would gladly follow him. And thel
among the men He would recruit Hi
followers just as Of old, for the com
mon people heard Him gladly The.
who's" faces are darkened by the search
ing chances of the sun and their hand:
hardened 10y the toll would figure large
ly among His followers. And so woulC
the honest men OF whatever profession
and whatever calling who are striving
for modest competence and in whose
hearts the greed OF gold has not burn
out all traces of humanity and fair deal
ing. and that of that divinity which
should be within us" But not man,
mighty nor many rich shall be called. L
was so Of old. They who form grea