The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-05-01
CHAPTER Xxx.

| dppilCdliOu VI JESUS tchCuAAS " SAc
point at issue.
| CHAPTER Xxx.
We cannot do better than give the |
evening paper account of the last serv-
| ice in the series. With one or two
slight exaggerations the account was a
faithful picture of one Of the most re-
markable meetings ever held in Milton:
Last night, it will be safe to say,
those who were fortunate enough to
secure standing room In Rev. Philip
Strong's church heard and saw things
that no other church in this town ever
witnessed.
"In the first place, 1t was q most as
-onishing crowd of people. Several Of
the church members were present, but
they were in the minority. The mill
men swarmed In and took possession.
1t is not exactly correct to say that
they lounged on the easy cushioned
pews Of the Calvary church, for there
was not room enough to lounge, pus
they filed up the sanctuary and SEEM
ed to enjoy the comfortable luxury Of
it.
"The subject Of the evening was
Wealth. and the president of the
trades assembly Of Milton made .
statement of the view which working
men in general have of wealth as re-
lat ed to labor Of hand or brain. He
stated what to his mind was the rea-
son for the discomfort of 80 many at
the sight of great numbers Of rich men
in times of suffering or sickness or
lack of work. Why, just look at the
condition of things here and in every
large city all over the world he said.
Men are suffering from the lack Of
common necessaries while men of
means with money in the bank con-
tinue to live just as luxuriously and
spend just as much as they ever did
for things not needful for happiness
, 1t has been in the power of men Of
wealth in Milton to prevent almost II
not all of the suffering here last win
ter and spring. 1t has been in their
power to see that the tenements were
better built and arranged for health
and decency. 1t has been In their
power to do thousand things that
. | money, and money alone. can do, and
1 believe they will be held to account
| for not doing some of those thingsv
. "At this point some one in the gal
lery shouted out. Hang the aristo-
cratsr Instantly Rev. Mr.. Strong rose
and stepped to the front of the plat
form. Raising his long, sinewy arm
|. and stretching out his open hand in ap-
!, peal, he said, while the great audience
was perfectly quiet: I will not allow
any such disturbance at this meeting.
We are here, not to denounce people,
but to find the truth. Let every fair
minded man bear that in mind
1.-THE preacher sat down, and the au.
dience cheered.
"The president of the trades assem-
: bly, resumed the discussion, closing
with the statement that never in the
: history of the country had there beer
so much money in the banks and sc
little of it in the pockets of the people
and when that was O fact something
was wrong, and it was for the mel
4 who owned the money to right tha
: wrong, for it lay in their power, not
with the poor man.
u "He was followed by a very cleal
and intensely interesting talk by Rev
- Mr.. Strong on the Christian teaching
e concerning the wealth Of the world
% Several times he was interrupted b,
. applause, once with Kisses, severa
u times with questions. He was hisset
when he spoke of the great selhshnes
D Of labor unions and trades erganiza
u tions in their attempts to dictate +
u other men in the matter Of worn
l With fhfc ono ovoopffou In which IN
III reverend gentleman spoke with hi
usual frankness, the audience cheers
N his presentation Of the subject an
was evidently in perfect sympath
IT, with his views. Short extracts frOr
" his talk will show the drift Of his eI
q. tire belief on this subject:
se LIVERY dollar that man has shoul
ne be spent to the glory of God.
II "'The teaching Of Christianity abOu
ne wealth is the same as about anythin
re else. 1t all belongs to God and shoul
10 be used by the man as God would us
ID it in the mans place.
"'The accumulation Of vast sums {
OF money by individuals or classes Of me
m has always been a bad thing for D.
lis ciety. A few very rich men and
Id what gave the world the French rev
at luton and the guillotine.
ni- "'There are certain conditions tru
m of society at certain times when it
to the Christian duty of the rich to nj
ul every cent they possess to relieve tt
he need of society. Such a condition fact
'et us today.
IN ".The foolish and unnecessary e.
lc- penditures of society on its trivi
IN pleasures at time when men an
ne women are out of work and childre
ch are crying for food is a cruel and VI
OF Christian waste of opportunity.
as eff Christ were here today, I b
ct lieve he would tell the rich men OF Nj
of ton that every cent they have belon,
lte to Almighty God, and they are on
dl- trustees of his property.
,m 1.-The church that thinks more
he fine architecture and paid choirs thf
cir of opening it's doors to the people tn
cir they may hear the gospel is churt
ed that is mortgaged for all it Is wor
tt to the devil. who will foreclose at Il
the first opportunity.
1b "'The first duty of every man WI
gs. has money is to ask himself, VIII
ill would Christ have me do with it? T.
ler second duty is to go and do it aft
for hearing the answer.
IN ~ tie money owned by chur