The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-23
SOME LEADING EDITORIALS.
Times Have Changed.

Baltimore Sun
The Bible lesson of Mr.. John D. Rockefeller
lr., last Sunday was a practical and Of alb
sorbng interest It dealt with riches and what
VIC shall give up when we follow the Master
The voting teacher took for his text the call OF
Simon, called Peter and Andrew his brother,
and Of the sons Of Zebcdee, and commended these
carly disciples highly for the aiacrity with which
they gave up their nets and their boat which
were possibly their entire possessions and fol-
lowed the Ma5ter Mr.. Rockefeller, however,
was careful TO impress on his class the fact that
VIC in this day and generation not called on
to surrcndcr all that have when We join the
church incidentally he mentioned the case Of
the rich young man who kept the commandments
faithfully and then asked the savior what more
he could do, evidently expecting 10 be assured
that nc had reached the climax Of goodness.
Rut to his dsmay the Master told him that If
he would be perfect he should sell all he had and
give II 20 the poor and then come and follow
Him. But the young man went away sorrow
ful, for he, like Mr.. Rockefeller had great
possessions After he had gone the Savior re-
marked upon the difficulties which beset the rich
man on his road TO heaven
Mr.. Rockefeller did not refer n this last
Fiction, but coptsStcd himself with warning his
class not interpret the Scriptures too literal
ly. Times have charged and we must apply the
rules Of the gospel to ourselves they are nodi-
that If we wish IN be perfect We must give up all
and follow Him He did not mean that but evil
IDENTITY meant something else. There is Mr. Rookie
feller. who is perfect. and he not only holds
on 10 what he has, but adds cent or two to the
price per gallon Of coal oil and is getting more
all the time But even ii are not required
10 give up our riches, Mr. Rockefeller said we
are required to give up something, and each one
OF us must decide for himself what he shall give
up He might have cited the case OF the bows
al the boarding school, when their teacher in
! yited them TO give up something during Lent
The day before that solemn season began he dis
| tributed slips of paper and invited each boy 70
write on slip the names OF something he was
willing to deny himself. The hat was passed
around the slips were collected and on each sin
! the word hash written. And SO with re-
gard to Mr. Rookefellers suggestion. We can al
least giyo up hash
The young Bible teacher is entirely correct in
| saying that times have changed since the gospel
was first promulgated. II present conditions had
prevailed .heu Simon, called Peter, and Andrew.
his brother, would have had no nets TO leave Tho
! fishing industry on the sea OF Gaee would have
been controlled by syndicate and the nets would
| have been owned by trust, and Peter and An
! drew would have been day lsborers, with per-
! haps an opportunity TO buy stock in the COM
pany at market prices The ship which was used
| by the sons of Zebedee would have been in the
| possession Of J. p Morgans shipping combine.
Every Federal court in Palestine would have
served injunctions upon the disciples to restrain
them from carrying out the principles Of the SER
mon on the Mount and from making any more
such attacks upon property.
| Indeed, times have changed greatly since the
! days Of Robin Hood, more than millennium
after the rich young man departed in sorrow.
Robin Hood saned a reputation for charity BY
robbing the rich and giving the money to the
poor. And now Mr.. Rockefeller ST., gains a
/ asg. r.
and giving to the richly putting a lew cents
per gallon on coal oil and giving portion of the
money obtained to millionaire university.
| Times indeed have changed. But notwithstand-
ing the change It viii occur to some that one of
the things Mr.. Rockefeller might give up would
be the taking advantage Of the distress and neees
stiles of the people 10 demand an excessive price
for his oil, the light, and, TO some extent the
fuel Of the poor