The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-16
INEQUALITIES OF LIFE
THAT'S WHAT MAKES LIFE WORTH
LIVING, SAYS MR. MILBURN.
Refers in His Sermon to the Victory
of Mr.. Intercollegiate
Y. VI. c. A.

Rev. J. A Milburn, pastor of the Second
Presbyterian Church, had for his topic at
yesterday mornings service "The Inequali-
ties of Life" In the course of his remarks
Mr.. Milburn said: 1T is one of the primary
postulates of the Declaration of Independ-
ence that all men are equal. That is beau
tiful thing, pretty theory, but likewise
great fiction. The great conspicuous fact of
life is not the equality. but the inequality Of
men and the conditions which begot them.
Men differ in their talents and also in their
fortunes, that in some subtle way deter
mines their destiny, or even If men were
equal by talent and endowment they are
made unequal by fortune. An illustration
of this we find in the election to the high
office of United States senator of our gifted
young townsman. 1t is certainly an admir-
able election and one which shows a fine
sense of the discrimination on the part of
the legislators who have bestowed this high
honor upon him. Here fortune comes to
crown a talent on the very threshold of its
career-comes to crown early manhood with
distinction. In New York, however. there is
a lawyer standing on the very heights of his
profession stalwart intellect and an illus
forces at the American bar, and yet fortune
withheld distinction from this man until
after his fiftieth year. For fifty years and
over his orbit was provincial, and not until
almost his fifty-hfth year did fortune be-
stow upon him the honor and the emolu-
ments that his talents justly deserved.
Many instances might be given in cor
roboration of lifes inequalities. We see it
f11f hn ind1T ri al rbaro hph
the one hand the few rich and the many
poor. We behold it in this political world,
whose concerns in every city, county and
State in the Nation are managed by an oil
garchy that we call the political machine.
We call our country political democracy;
So it is. / suppose, ultimately, but for all
practical purposes we are an oligarchy: The
few lead us, direct us, build our platforms
and tell us the men for whom we should
vote, and we go and do as they bid us.
Social life. TOO, is. as we all know, made
up of an infinite variation of inequalities.
We are all socially differentiated Some be-
long to what is called the upper class, some
to the middle class, some to what is called
the lower class and some to no class at all
the pariahs and outcasts of society. We,
as well as the English nation, have our So
cial barbarians, our social Philstines and
class summed UP in the term the common
tain moments against these inequalities.
We protest against industrial inequality,
equality, or the rule of the politician;
against social inequality. or the rule of the
ariStocrat There are moments when we all
sympathize with the temper of the socialist
who wants to regimentalize the human race;
to make all men wear common uniform,
do common work and live a common life.
VIRTUES OF INEQUALITY.
'This protest against LIES inequalities,
however, 1 believe to be quite illogical. In
equality has its virtues and does benefi-
cent work. First of all it makes life pic
turesque. This world would be very I'M
interesting world if all men were equally
rich; if all men thought the same thoughts;
if all men held the same creed; if all men
maintained the same political convictions;
if all men went to the same church, and if
all men lived the same life. Shakespeare is
interesting as a unique force, but 10000 900
Shakspeares in the United States would,
imagine make a rather unintereSting Amer
lea. John Calvin was a great power, but
were all Calvins, / fear the world would
be rather heavy and oppressive world TO
live in. Wordsworth was lovely singer,
but were we all chanting odes on immortal
ity the WOrdSWOrthian character would lose
its dignity, its splendor and its charm. The
beauty of forest lies in the variations of
it's trees; the beauty Of city lies in the va
riations of its architecture, and the beauty
of humanity lies in the variations of its
gifts, talents, tastes and endowments-in
other words in its inequalities; and it is
these Inequalities in their infinite combina-
ton and permutations that constitute the
charm and picturesqueness Of the human
world. And further let me say that the
inequalities of lifework for the worlds bet
terment and enrichment.
I'VE are told of certain type of social
philosophy that contends that the strong
men are getting stronger and the weak men
are getting weaker; that the rich men are
getting richer and the poor are getting
poorer. The first half of both of these
propositions is altogether true. The strong
are getting stronger Authority and power
are every day becoming more centralized
and the rich are getting richer. The vast
wealth of such men as Vanderbilt, Rookie
Teller, Gould and Armour of this country,
and Sir Thomas Upton and the Armstrong;
of England are a new phenomena in the
economic world; but, while it is true that
the rich are growing richer, it is a great
mistake to assume that the inequality that
comes from the disparity of wealth is fatal
to the interests of the general wellbeng Of
society. The forces of life are so skillfully
articulated that the strength of each man
becomes the strength of all. The truth of
the matter is the redemption of humanity
is written very largely in the biographies of
the worlds great men. 1t is the few rich
men that have made the world rich; it is
the few wise mon that have made the world
wise; it is the few noble men that have
made the world noble; it is the few right
eOus men that have made the world right
eous; the few great spiritual seers like
Socrates, Plato, Buddha, SpinoZa, Kant,
Emerson, Carlyle, st. Paul and the Prophet
of Nazareth that have indicted humanity in
to the realm of the beatific vision