The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-13
CHAPTER Xxx.

aggerations the account was faithful
picture of one OF the most remarkable
meetings ever held in Milton
Last night. IL will be safe 10 say
those who were fortunate enough TO Sc
cure standing room In Rev. Philip
strong's church heard and saw things
that no other church in this town ever
witnessed.
.In the frst place. n was a most as
Consisting crowd OF people. Several Of the
church members were present. but they
were In the minority The mill men
swarmed in and took possession. II Is
not exactly correct 70 say that they
ounged on the easy cushioned pews OF
the Calvary church, for there was not
room enough 10 lounge. but they filled
up the sanctuary and seemed 10 enjoy
the comfortable luxury OF II.
"The subject OF the evening was
wealth and the president OF the trades
assembly OF Milton made statement OF
the view which workngmen in general
have OF wealth related I, 10 labor of
hand OF brain. Ho stated what to his
mind was the reason for the discomfort
OF so many at the sight OF great numbers
of rich men in times of suffering or sick
ness or lack OF work. Why. just look al
the condition OF things here and I'm every
large city all over the world he said.
Men are suffering from the lack OF com
mon necessaries while men OF means with
money I'm the bank continue TO live just
as iuxuriously and spend just as much as
they ever did for things not needfu for
happiness. IL has been in the power OF
men OF wealth In Milton To prevent al
most II not all OF the suffering here last
winter and spring. II has been in their
e.. shat ~ e
better built arranged for health and de-
cency. II has been In their power to do
thousand things that money, and
money alone, can do and I believe they
will be held to acrount for not doing
some OF those things?
"At this point somo one IN the gal
lcry shouted out, Hang the afstocratsr
Instantly Pew. Mr. Strong rose and
stepped to the front OF the platform
Raising his long. sinewy arm and stretch
ing out his open hand In appeal, he said.
while the great audience was perfectly
quiet: Il will not allow any such distur-
bance at this meeting. We are here. not
20 denounce people, but to find the truth.
Let every fair minded man bear that in
mind
"The preacher sat down. and tho au-
dience cheered.
The president OF the trades assembly
resumed the discussion. closing with the
the country had there been so much
money I'm the banks and so little OF II In
the pockets OF the people. and when that
was fact something was wrong, and X
was for the men who owned the money
20 right that wrong. for II lay in their
power, not with the poor man.
He was followed by very clear and
Intensely interesting talk by Rev. Mr.
Strong on the Christian teaching concern
ing the wealth OF the world. Several
times he was interrupted by applause
once with Kisses, several times with uues-
lions. He was hissed when he spoke OF
the great selnshness OF labor unions and
trades organizations in their attempts 10
dictate to other men IN the matter of
work. With this one exception. IN which
the reverend gentleman spoke with his
usual frankness. the audience cheered his
presentation OF the subject and was evil
IDENTIFY In perfect sympathy with his
views. Short extracts from his talk will
show the drift OF his entire belief on this
subject
Every dollar that a man has should
be spent to the glory OF God.
THE teaching Of Christianity about
wealth Is the same. as about anything
else. II ell belongs 10 God and should
be used by the man as God would use
II In the mans place.
The accumula tion Of vast sums of
money by individuals or classes OF men
has always been a bad thing for So
ciety. few very rich men and a great
number OF very poor men are what gave
the world the French revolution and the
RuiIlotine.
There are certain conditions true OF
society at certain times when II IL the
Christian duty Of the rich 10 use every
cent they possess 10 relieve the need OF
society. Such condition faces us to-
day.
"sThe foolish and unnecessary ex-
penditures of society on It's trivial pleas
ures at time when men and women
are out OF work and children are crying
for food is a cruel and un Christian waste
OF opportunity.
o''If Christ were here to-day 7 believe
he would tell the rich men OF Milton that
every cent they have belongs 10 Almighty
God. and they are only trustees OF his
property.
1.-The church that thinks more ~ fine
architecture and paid chors than Of
opening its doors TO the people that thoy
may hear the gospel IL church that is
mortgaged for all II II worth to the devil
who wfll forecioss at the nrst opportunity
+" The FIRST duty OF every man who
has money IL 10 ask himself What
would Christ have me- do with IT, The
second duty is 10 20 and do II after
hearing the enswer
II the money owned by church mem
bers were AL spent for the glory ~ God.
there would be fewer hundred thousand
dollar churches built and more model ten
emenss.
N Christ had been y millionaire he
would have used his money 90 build
up character In other people rather than
huild a magnificent brownstone palace
for himself. But we cannot imagine
Christ as q millionaire.
1t n as true now when Paul said
n nearly 20 centuries ago. THE love OF
money is n root OF all kinds of evil" ~
r. the curse OF our civilization. the great
est god Of the human race today.
"'Our civilization r. only partly Chris
tisn. for Christian civilization means
more comforts: ours means more wants
"1f mans pccketbook II not con-
verted with his soul. the man will not
get into heaven with II.
There are certain things that money
alone can secure. but among those things
II cannot buy In character