The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-08

the rags and sins of poverty. he found there were classes. Sinful men and wo- men would not associate with each oth- CT because some of them thought their own rags were a little cleaner and bet ter than their neighbors rags. So all through the church and the world you find this contemptible spirit of the elder brother. We find so-called Christian men and women who protest against the prod igafs return because they fear the young I CT brothers reformation might in some way injure their own social and spiritual standing.
 The Two Sons.
 The elder brother never longs to sat- isfy the divine cravings of his fathers love. I have no sympathy with some of the excuses that are made for that prodi- gal son. I have no sympathy with those who declare that young men are led astray Into the far country of sin be- cause they have generous impulses and abnormal affections and therefore can not say no to the tempter. That prod igal was an ingrate, every way you take him He was a selfish, contemplate. dis solute rake. No man Is large hearted who will take a friend to a saloon or open a bottle of wine at club when in order to do 1t he makes his own chill dren go hungry and dress in rags. No generous hearted young man will go h. to the far country of sin and reckiessly squander his money when at the same time he knows that his old father is weeping at home, with his eyes a foun- tain of tears; but though that younger son was a selfish, despicable character, the elder was just as despicable. When the elder brother heard the music which ] signaled the parental joy over the re-
 
 the eyes of his father glistening with love and his cheeks flushing with a holy thankfulness, he would have rejoiced for his fathers sake if he had not been selfish and would not have tried to stab the old man to the heart Did he not say in effect: 'Yes, we shall drive that absolute debauchee back to his swine trough. Then we can have the pleasure of seeing father again restiessly pacing the floor through the long weary hours of the night" Did he not want to hear that dear. old gentle, forgiving father again moan over his wayward boy as David mourned over his dead son Absalom?
 If that elder brother had been the right kind of son, he would have seen what joy came Into the fathers heart at the return of his repentant son. He would have immediately said: What difference
 
 ther happy? Away with the question of dollars and cents If my brothers re- turn Is only a true return" So every Christian today. if he is the right kind of a Christian does not think about the social condition of his repentant fellow man. He immediately says, when the publican bows at the mercy seat: "Oh, the joy and the rapture of heaven. Oh, look of triumphant love which Is upon x,Nx I-n4l f,o n aIo ti.1 music which in great tidal waves of sound is rolling through the golden boule- wards of the New Jerusalem. Oh the an- gelic voices in heaven which are every where shouting the glad tidings: The prodigal has returned! The prodigal has returned to his Fathers nouse! '
 The Lack of Faith.
 The elder brothers conduct also shows a lack of faith in his father. He refuses to believe that his Divine Fathers love is powerful enough to change sinner in- to a saint Infidelity often intrenches it. self In the pew and behind the church pulpit. Some church members, and some ministers of the gospel, are only theoriz-. ing when they profess to believe that Jesus Christ can pardon sin. They pro- fess to believe that Christ can transform the seven deviled Marys into the Marys
 
 worship, but these skeptical elder broth CTS go forth into the great, wide. sinful world and by their practical behavior scatter their ideal spiritual theories to the four winds.
 When the reformed drunkard comes home they cry out: What Is the good of letting that unprincipled loafer into the house? He IS just like other drunk ards He is only repenting for a little 1, oxF ont of us and go forth on another spree. Drive him out at once. Let him go to the poorhouse. where he belongs" When the young girl who has fed a absolute life wants to lead a pure life, Instead of finding the willing arms of forgiveness held out to her by her elder sisters she finds only the shut doors of a contempt uous rebuke. Why? Because the cynical elder sisters do not believe that prod igal woman with a black past can ever, even by divine power. be changed into a sainted woman with spotless future. The criminal has served his penittentiary term and Is liberated from the stone cell. Is the great world at large ready to for give him and receive him back into hon. orable employment if he repents? Oh, no! The elder brothers and elder sisters are so bitter against the ex-convicts that many A repentant one has deliberately returned to his crimes because he could earn living in no other way. When a visiting minister, some years ago, asked convict if he would not like to be free, this answer was given Why should I want to be free? Is the honest world ready to receive me with an outstretehed hand. of love? No. In the worlds eyes the striped suit of the convict always cov- CTS a heart of total depravity. Because I have once done wrong the world Is never willing to believe that I am willing to do right. I must always live an out cast. must die q criminal" My brothers and sisters, can 1t be possible that we do not believe that the love of God Is power full enough to save men? Can 1t be pos