The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-03-06
being" Wealth shouts; .I have" but

petng. NtaItn snoutr ! nave, OUT
poverty whispers, Il am" Poverty comes
10 know that only spiritual Appropriation
gives real ownership. This is one oi he
messages Of the old Eden story OF Genesis.
for God placed Adam in the garden as a
poor worker, He was 10 tall and 10 keep
the place and only 10 enjoy SO much OF IL
as he made has own. The supreme ioy Of
his position was that through toll he was
able 20 look upon God and the good and
make them his own. In his sin he filled
his heart with substitutes for God. and
thus shut Him out OF his soul, The return
10 Eden is the retarn 20 simplicity and re-
ceptlvity IL - the becoming sensi,ve
once more 20 the good and the taking in If
truth, beauty, holiness.
Ii Is false theory which assumes that
the activity OF poverty rs due 20 reckless
ness, that the poor may choose anv course
OF action. disregard any existing ordet. be-
cause they have nothing 20 lose" Even
for the poor II is true that life is more
than meat and the body than raiment." The
true cause for the activity OF poverty is
found in the rugged strength developed ty
adversely. IN the constant need for adapta-
tion 10 the demands of the passing days.
and. finally. in the undvlng belief cherished
that there is "a good time coming IN he
golden future.
Ii "a the tendency Of wealth 10 he sat.
istied with things as thev are. iniustrially,
socially, morally. Truths cartoon. An
English Board Meeting" is startlinglv sug.
gestive when applied 10 morals. as well as
when applied 10 money Why" the aged
and wealthy directors of the great railway
are made 10 ask. why m-st the public in
terfere with our business WHY must in.
ventors suggest new devices? What's the
good OF these innovations"
The great labor saving ideas OF he age
have come into the minds of the poor: they
h,
stress. and they have been forced upon a
reluctant world hv men who cared rorc
for progress than for ease. So u - with
the men and women who, hungerlng and
thirsting after righteousness, have become
possessed of great moral ideas. The grasp
Of these ideas upon their own souls ren.
ders them unrcstngiy eager 10 see them
enthroned in the heart Of the race. They
are willing 10 fieht seemingly hopeless het-
ties, 10 champion desplsed principles, TO
advocate unwecome truths They know
what they have believed, and their know.
edge gives them willingness 10 utilize their
hard earned strength for the education and
advancement OF mankind. and these cham.
Mons of the principles OF nety have been
from the davs Of Jesus and from the apos-
tolic times the sons OF poverty. When in
the DAYS Of primitive Christianity the gos-
pel spread from Jerusalem, u was carried
by the poor; when II laid siege 10 hostile
lands, poverty fought for II; when il grew
corrupt through the Vaccinations Of n
wicked priesthood. poor men purified H..
when in these last DAYS II has become
ready for world conquest. humble servants
OF the King have been called TO carry a.
But we have said that plety has ne one
OF it's important elements the recognition
Of love as the great animatng and sustain
ing principle this recognition poverty glad
" accoids. When we are told in the text
that the poor had the gospel preached to
them. we have, as has been said. more than
mere statement of fact that Jesus de
livered sermons 10 multltudes Of the
needy: we have the implied declaration of
a condition OF understanding of sympathy,
between His soul and theirs. Men who
were dominated hy selfish principles did
not understand Him. for they were incapa-
bile of recognizing love as the supreme mo-
tive OF soul Action, for them. was al
wavs dictated bv policy, and they suspected
hidden motive behind the activity OF
Jesus.
The Master declared that for a rich man
10 enter the kingdom is difficult What
did He mean? He doubtless considered the
increasing danger of baslng action upon
false motive. He knew that il is the tend.
ency Of wealth 20 render action mechanl.
cal. careless. and. too frequently. heartlcss,
that the rich man may give his gold To
charity" while his heart is as flint; that
he NAV support tho gospel with his money
while his heart feels no JOY in it's message.
But he knew that poverty rightly con.
ceived tends 10 keep the life normal and
true 10 the true springs of action. lie
knew that the poor who heard Him when
they gave their mites gave them because
OF love, for no other power could cause
that TO be sacrificed which represented
bread. shelter. life. He knew that they
were familiar with the ministry of
poverty TO poverty, and that they
were able to grasp the significance
Of ministry based upon simple. un-
selfish love So He preached TO them.
unfolding His conception OF the approach
ing Kingdom of God, the kingdom Of love.
Calmly lie revealed TO them life which
needed for it's realization neither might
nor money. Sweetly He discoursed 10 them
Of tao inward nature Of the kingdom. OF
tho hunger, the thirst the .meekness. the
poverty necessary in order that men might
possess It, and they understood.