The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-01
CHRIST'S RELATION
To THE NEEDY POOR.

The Reverend j. II. A. Vaughn of the
kirkwood Methodist Episcopal Church.
hSs'h 1trs ss0, Mem ms hai i Giis.S a ;i"h' Ssse sI0i his
text on Mark xiii, S. 3: she hath done
what she could. This also that she hath
done shall be spoken of for u memorial Oh
her" He said. in part:
What single coed might be cut out from
your life that you would be willing, 10
have repeated forever as your memorial
characteristic might fairly represent you!
Mary's gift is so eonsonant . Win her nrov who nr
below her daily life. u,
The piopbiem Is: Given a costly box OF
ointment. in the presence OF the Master
what shall be done with it? Two ways
are sugs 3sted in that company. One is the
| way of Judas. the other Is Mary's. Judas
spoke for the poor. Why this waste. 1t
ma5m "a plsaus' asain sEy' the h, is woman t"rany: they they
on her Lord. Judass wrong was not, in
pleading for the poor. Ills Master had
treasury over which he presided-hts Lords
the poor We're constantly supplied: me
poor have many wants. The hungry; the
with US everywhere. They have a claim up
on us. The mistake of Judas was in array
ing the claims of the poor against TIE
claims Of Christ; in supposinG that what Is
given to Christ is taken from the poor.
There are those who think a dollar given
to the church. or to foreign missions, or 70
Vii SNuIutlOI IL 81 AiiuNh bD'N. -
| would have been far better. they think. to
have put it into a charity fund for the poor
of an American winter. But if you. want
to care for the poor. build up Christs
church. The cripple knows where to go to
get alms-at the temple gate. at the hour
Of prayer: ~. ca r,,o,
| Upon their sufferings, as upon Christ's
claims for them. He 10 the friend of the
friendless. His kingdom breaches the gospel
| poor except through Christ. Give them your
money only and they will hate you. Give
them yourself,,your synnathy-and your
What the poor nee! is Christine bread
of life. Not your sympathy. but to feel
the sympathy OF the Christ you take them
! your Christ and theirs. 1t is a spirit born
OF the selfishness of Judas to plead for the
poor and take not Christ TO them. They
have a deeper want than bread can sup
ply. They want Lord-God's love-the touch
Of the divine hand. What is 1t to be poor?
To feel lonely. To have a consciousness OF
guilt. 1t is a sin when a soul is furnishing
for a cup of water from the fountain OF
is a crime 10 give something for the hunger
and cold, as We fling a dog a bone, and ig-
! rore their soul-hunger. The Russian philan-
thrcpist turned his pockets inside out IN
response to the appeal Of a street beggar
and regretfully said: Brother. you see 1
have not a penny. I'm sorry Hours after
radiant light of hope kindlins upon his
face. and the beggar said: You gave a
great gift: you called me brother de felt
the touch of the Christ in the disciples
tone, AID was poor and hungry no longer.
"tGive to the poor And what about this
man with the shadow of the cross upon
| painful heart-hunger. The presence of
JUDAS. who is just ready to go out from this
feast to arrange for the betrayal, Expresses.
Even now he has entered the awful depths
of the passion week. Shall no one come to
| him in this hour? Can no one suit best this
woman's love? Shall blind selhshness re-
to him.? Judas could not know; he is under
the darkness of his coming crime. That is
the price We pay for sin-blindness: We do
not see. because we are selfish. and there
fore we cannot help. But Mary brings the
gift that refreshes his weary spirit. The
reckless. enthusiastic offering of her best,
up while he bears this burden of the worlds
salvation. With this one response to all, he
offers S3s s,,, to the the v r He sees the travail Of
ing her money for the poor. This was her
only opportunity. Other poor would ever be
with her. put this man shall not pass this
saw the chance and gloriously embraced it.
And now, what is this deed which stands
out as a model for US? II is the EXPRESSION
friendship OF him who had sought their
humble home and honored 1t with his pres
snce and Who had come at the call of their
brother, sitting at this very feast. restored
to them from the deed. The promise that
hVlnS and believing in him they should
never die. All the sweet of these blessings
filled her soul; and all this he saw.
1T was not only there, but she gave vent
TO 1t. She was determined to honor him.
that she studied to nave a gift that would
bless him. or startle others; but her love
would not be satisfied with u mean Offering.
The fountain within her soul would cease
Its flow If she brought forth a petty thing
Tor him. 1t is the best that we have that
We must bring to him. 1t is the love for
1 MIMI mar hpC a rnChIncc vanor &C., ~@-A
that honors him. With her alabaster box
was her !fe-her all. 1t Is the precious
treasure of self flung away in loyal love to
all the house."