The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-06-18
SERMON ON WEALTH
AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

At st. Johns Episcopal Church. corner Of
Hickory and Dolman streets, the Reverend
C.. N Moiler. rector. spoke yesterday morn
ing on Wealth and Social Conditions"
taking his text from Luke. sixteenth
chapter, nineteenth and twentieth verses:
clothed in purple and fine linen and Jared
sumptuously every day; and there was a
certain begsar named Lazarus. which was
laid at the gate full OF Sores"
He said In part:
"Thi is the beginning Of that remarkable
story of Dives and Lazarus. This parable,
word picture or series of pictures drawn
with a dellcacy of toucn.a descriptive vivid
ness. a depth OF pathos that shows an
artistic power unsurpassed IN paraDoic
literature. In simple outline there Is ex-
pressed with that unique Christ-power that
great truth which is the supreme revela.
ton of the Christ life: That a man cannot
be saved without wishing and helping to
save some one else, that the highest Chris
tian duty is love and the damning sin
THE scene opens with a rich man living
in the luxury Of costly pleasures and for
getful Of the poor beggar lying so near MIN
man is borne by his slaves to and from
his house he passes by the misery at his
gate with hardly a glance and certainly
with no thought as to his responsibility In
attempting to better his condition. One
day as the rich man passes by the De8gar
no longer lies a living appeal to MS PITY
alN ~ dAiAio AoSc
him or care that he is dead. He has not
yet felt the consequences OF the neglect
IF in life he was at all ambitious he was
sure that his vocation was a great one. As
the years went by he may have sought
opportunities that were in some sense
.in death there is revealed to his wasted.
ruined life his greatest opportunity. As a
hoIds in paradise the beggar who once suf-
fered and died unheeded at his door.
IAN experience awaits men In the inrisi-
bic world that will not only prove the falia-
CIV of many theories and shock with great
surprise. Dut torment with humble aufies
left undone
in his habits. is not represented as a wicked
man any more than the beggar at his gate.
although poor and wretched. is pictured as
a pious man. The charity Christ teaches
is not merely for the pious and worthy
poor, nor g II merely doing out crumbs to
beggars. but II H. helping all who are in need.
prophet 1t is well with Isaiah because he
judged the cause Of the poor and needy
MANY a rich man will give bread and
dinners to the poor. but he will not trouble
himself about the permanent Improvement
of the condition Of the poor. 1t is the spirit
of Christ alone that can enable a man TO
know his duty and Go II ches-fully and
faithfully. 1t is in the Christ revelation
that God demands not a mere pittance for
his poor, but the ~exercis. of sympathetic
interest and most intelligent consideration
to alleviate their sufferfngs and judge their
cause and strive to give them justice and
mercy and, above all. see that the gospel
is preached unto them,
''There never was a time in the history CT
the Christian world when IL was more
important for the best men to realize their
Christian duty than now.
Among the great questions that are pre-
scented by the worlds progress the social
problem is undoubtedly the greatest. The
condition II vast numbers of the industrial
classes is such that II even threatens the
stability of vast empires
The principles of the Christ life ard
teaching, together with present social con-
ditions, demand that men should recognize
that the Christian duty is love and the
damuing sin is selfishness.
And yet the most serious social eondi-
ton is found in the great number of the
men of education and wealth VINO are in
different to the call. OF humble duty II the
best interest for the common life.
Dives is but the picture of the average
life. Lazarus laid at his gate is an opportu-
nifty to help humanity.
The poet Wordsworth declared that he
was living in days
Or every side fall off We krow not how
To selfshness disguised in gentle names
OF peace and quiet and domestic love.
Are not these words of reproach for this
In their private affairs? When men. even
some of the men most able to be useful.
but dream of laurel crowns for their self
centered lives and are even engaged in the
selfish pursuit Of their own religious inter-
eSts?
We have heard in our city's streets the
dread mob cry, the turmoil of lawlessness
and scenes of cruelty and disregard for
human life that have been an open shame
to a Christian civilization. but does it not
bear witness of neglected opportunities and
IAN over this country unions have been