The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-03
GIVE ROSES TO THE LIVING,
WHY WAIT FOR DEATHS CHILL
A Story by DR.. Whitaker, the Keynote OF Which is
"NOt to Scatter TI10rns But

Roses

profit under the sun.
If Solomon had thought less of his
own pleasure, and more of the happi-
more real pleasure than he got out
of all his vanities.
A man is to be pitied who can't see
anybody but self, and nothing bigger
than a dollar; whose horizon is his
yard fence, and who knows nor cares
for anybody outside of the little world
he calls home. The happiest people
are those who contribute most to the
happiness of others. That old chest
nut of a prayer, God bless me and
myNvife my son John and his wife, us
four and no more is characteristic
of that Selfishness which is fatal to
true happiness in this life, and of that
philanthropy which expends itself in
looking after and taking care of num-
Der one; shutting it's eyes and stop
ping it's ears to the condition and
cries of those in need.
In the story which I viii relate,
right at this point, it will be seen that
so-called good men sometimes become
dwarfed in feeling and sentiment and
lose the image of Him whose brethren
they claim to be.
poor, aged woman, was being
cared for by q certain church. she
was unable to help herself and but
for the kindness of that congregation
she would have been sent to the poor
house. For ten years she had been fed,
clothed and cared for; and every sun
day morning Il carriage was sent TO
bring her to the church. There she
sat, poor dependent creature, bur-
den upon the church; and. realizing
more than tongue could express, how
utterly ValueleSS was her being, 1t was
no wonder that her soul was always
full Of gratitude to those who were so
kind 20 her. She could join in the
singing, when one OF the 0lr-time
hymns was sung, and, old as she was,
her voice was round and sweet and
many OF the congregation said the
singing always sounded better when
AUNT Poffy'S'' voice could be heard
At a meeting CT the stewards one
night a brother arose and, in very
serious manner, said: Brethren, |
feel a delicacy in bringing to your at
tention a matter which l have been
considering for some time. and which
| think demands some action on the
part of this official body. You know
that this church has a great many
poor members; and you remember
that, no longer ago that last Sunday,
our preacher called attention to the
fact that more money was needed 10
meet the demands that are constantly
and increasingly made upon our chart
ty fund. Times are hard and few
of US have to bear the burdens of
the church; and, l for one, feel that
our poor list ought be overhauled and
some cutting down be done. If things
go on much longer as they are, we
shall all be bankrupt, and that very
soon. We are keeping too many on
our poor list; and some of them have
been on it for a long time. For m
stance, there's AUNT Polly" who has
been a beneficiary Of this church for
about ten wears; and, In conversation
with our pastor, q day or two ago, L
learned, in a sort of incidental way,
that she has cost our congregation
over thousand dollars, already, and
mot SAYING that 1 wish her to die)
she looks as if she might i've ten
years longer Something ought 10 be
done in her case, as well as in others
For some time silence reigned. ana
every eye in the room seemed to De
fixed on the floor. Finally another
brother arose and said: Il am sur
prised at the statement just MADE py
our brother with reference TO Aunt
Polly" and, as much as / desire TO
do her a further kindness. L feel that
The time has come when we ougnt 10
begin to unload. A hundred dollars
a wear is a big amount to pay out,
these hard times, when there is
place provided for just such people as
AUNT Polly" And if I can get
second will move that we discontinue
our charities to her, and make the
necessary arrangements TO send her TO
the poor house"
The motion was seconded Dy Broln-
er Number One, who said IN SO 40
ing:
81 second the motion of my brother,
because / feel that we have done our
whole duty bv the old sister; and
having done our whole duty, nothing
more should be required of us, as
church. The sister can be VOL taken
care of at the poor house, and OF
course our burden will be greatly
lightened." 49,
"Brethren." said the chairman, THE
motion before you is to discontinue
the charities of this church to Sister
Polly Smith. Are you ready for the
question ?'
Inst then arose another brother.
who promptly and very emphatically
declared his opposition to the! motion
i'm the following speech:
"Brethren: This church can do
without a pastor and stewards. but
it can't do at all without religion;
and If / read the Word OIL Coo arignt,
religion can't thrive much unless sac
rifiees IRE ma tie. And that means,
am to take of my CWn cubstGnce--
that which l have made for the use
of myself and family. and divide it
with widows and orphans. L would
feel mean indeed to stand on the
street AMI see Aunt Polly being carted
out to the poor house, while l had.
and the members of this church had
the good things which better health
and more fortuitAIS circumstances
had secured to me and to them. as
we'll. Aunt Polly shall not be sent to
the poor house. No; if / can prevent
it. she shall not be turned away from
>thiS church. If / were to come here
next Sunday morning and see her
place vacant l would feel as if JESUS
himself haG been driven ont. He had
no home III this world; and so. lie
established A church which is to be an
asylum to His poor brothers and
sisters; and I, for one, so long as |
have q crust of bread to divide or 4
dollar to help pay expenses, 1 am cp-
posed to saying to one of the Lord s
poor. You can't abide with us any
longer To tell you the truth, breth-
rem, l get more religion by looking 1T
Aunt Polly-seeing how patient, meek,
gentle, resigned and trusting she is
than / do out of the preaching and