Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-10-13

other physiognomies. She never tires
Of watching her own countenance. Her
smile Ia sweetest when she Ia praislng
her own sweet self. But, though AFRO
CANT pride admircs her own looks and
her own brain more than those Of the
people around her, she has often no
right to gather the lilies OF innocence
to wear as bouquet on her corsage.
In her heart there may be the germs of
evil and cruelty Ms fierce as that
which impeiled the women Of France
In the revolution to surround the gull
lotine and gloat over the execution OF
victims as guiltless as themselves. l
find that, as n rule, she thinks that her
own garments are the clinging robes OF
an angel pure and spotless, while the
garments Of her fellow human crea-
lures are the rags and tatters OF re-
pentant or an unrepentant prodigal,
All Were Gentlemen.
IL Ia too often forgotten that ar
rogance and pride are sins in them
selves. The lofty spirit which boasts
that II is free from the guilt of others
and holds aloof from the repentant SIN
ner. whom 1t surveys with scorn IL
not that pride most heinous sin in
the sight of Just God? During the
darkest days OF the French revolution
Of 1880 n great mob of insurgents and
rioters were blockading the Partisan
streets. ut Is useless to appeal to
their reason. They have no reason"
sold General Lafayette. the command
er of the national guard, which ulti-
mately placed Louis Philippe upon the
French throne. "Shoot them down like
dogs Let me, general, try TO scatter
them" said star officer TO his com
mander. The young man took Off his
hat and rode up to the threatening
mob. Then he cried, IAN gentlemen
will please to retire, for l am ordered
TO shoot down the rabble." At once
the mob scattered. Not" wrote the
historian. from fear, but because not
one OF those fierce rioters wanted the
people Of France to consider that he
belonged to tho scum or the offscour-
ings Of the nation" Because arrogant
pride considers herself different from
the repulsive hays OF sin does that
make her different? tell thee nay
The vilest and the most degraded
forms OF sin are not more condemned
in Gods sight than the sin OF the
Pharlsee. Christ said 1t. We must be
lleve 1t.
Who is this Pharisee Of old modern
lied into the language of the church
life Of today? let me describe him as
you have often seen him Sunday
morning Is here. The supercilious crea.
tire crawls out Of bed He must go &c
church. II is part Of his religion to go
to church Every one says he Is one
Of the pillars Of the church. he dis.
likes the word pillar" because for n
long time he has thought he is the
whole sanctuary. choir loft and pulpit
thrown in. as well as pew.
He has hard work to get up this
morning because all the week. Ike Shy
lock. he has been demanding his pound
OF flesh. He gave a hundred dollars to
the church last week. but he did not
miss 1t much. He took 1t or the wages
Of his employees. During the week,
by business tricks and financial thumb
screws, he got at least four different
pieces Of real estate 5000 less than
they We're worth. He lied about the
deal, but Of course he only lied &C
cording to recognized business custom
Last night he discharged q young girl
because she was sick. He knew what
made her sick. He worked her over
time and worked all the physical life
out Of her.
why don't you hurry to church, old
Phar!see? Don't you hear the last
bell ringtngT' ooh, yes" says tine old
hypocrte. but there is no need Of my
hurrying. The ushers always keep my
seat. l make a fuss about having any
one else put in my pew. Besides, II
Is not disnt1ied for me to go ahead or
even to b. on time. Let me come In
service and then every one will be
impressed by my entrance and the
solemn devotion with which kneel in
prayer"
4 Modern Pharfsee.
Our Pharisee of modern times comes
in late. as usual. A quiet little lazy
dressed in black Ia seated in his pew
His face and neck get as red as If he
had been taking n ten mile tramp I'M
der the tropical sun. We are almost
afraid he will burst blood vessel in
an apoplectic At who Is she7 For
what is she theref Wasn't her husba nd
that old drunk ard who died Ia delirium
tremens ave months ago and who died
bankrupt. owing me $500" Yes"
said the usher. But her own life has
been sweet and pure. and as she used
to know Jour family in her better days
she asked for your pew. She has come
to church because she wants to join
our church Join our church, chi
Yes" said the old hypocrite, II know
why she wants to join our church; she
wants me to help her and to let her
children enter the society Of my fam.
lily. I will not do It. Now, Mr. Usher,
see here, this is going too far. This is
too good church for the IA bible. We
can start missions for the poor. | do
not want lot of people with scandals
hesmirching their names using us for
social hospital. l am willing to pay
my pew rent and help out the pastors
salary and help support few foreign
and home missions, but am not will
inR to be dragged into the social mud