Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-10-15

OF watching her own c0untenance. her
smile is sweetest when she Is praising |
her own sweet self. But though arro-
CANT pride admires 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 a bouquet on her corsage.
In her heart there may be the germs OF
evil and q cruelty as fierce as that
which impelled 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 q 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 a re-
pentant or an unrepentant prodigal
All Were Gentlemen.
It Is too often forgotten that ar
rogance and pride are sins In them
selves. The lofty spirit which boasts
that 1t is free from the guilt of others
and holds aloof from the repentant sim
ner, whom it surveys with scorn, Is
not that pride a most heinous sin In
the sight of a just God? During the
darkest days Of the French revolution
OF 1890 q great mob of insurgents and
rioters were blockading the Partisan
streets. ut Is useless to appeal to
their reason. They have no reason
said General Lafayette, the command
or Of the national guard, which ultl-
mately placed Louis Philippe upon the
French throne "Shoot them down like
dogs" LET me, general, try to scatter
them." said staff officer to his COM
mander. The young man took of his
hat and rode up to the threatening
mob. Then he cried, "All 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 the scum or the offscour-
lngs of the nation" Because arrogant
pride considers herself different from
the repulsiye hags 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
Pharisee. Christ said it. We must be-
lieve It.
Who is this Pharisee Of old modern
lied into the language Of the church
life Of todayl Let me describe him as
you have often seen him. Sunday
morning Is here. The supercilious crea-
ture crawls out Of bed. He must go to
church. It 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 a
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, like Shy
lock. he has been demanding his pound
OF fiesh. He gave hundred dollars to
the church last week, but he did not
miss II much. He took II of the wages
of his employees. During the week
/ by business tricks and fnancia' thumb
screws. he got at least four different
pieces Of real estate 5000 less than
they were worth. He lied about the
deal. but of course he only lied &C
cording to recognized business custom
Last night he discharged young CIR
because she was sick. He knew wha'
made her sick. He worked her over
time and worked all the physical if'
out Of her.
, "Why don't you hurry to church, olt
Phartsee? Don't you hear the las
bell ringing?' "Oh, yes" says the OLE
2 hypocrite, "but there is no need of m.
D hurrying. The ushers always keep IN!
seat. make a fuss about having an!
D one else put In my pew. Besides, l
D is not dignifed for me to go ahead o
\ even to be on time. Let me come Il
8 tust before the sermon and disturb tn
2 service, and then every one VIII b
4 impressed by my entrance and tn
8 solemn devotion with which l kneel
d prayer"
" A Modern Pharisee.
: Our Pharisee Of modern times come
4 In late, as usual A quiet little lad
o dressed In black Is seated In his pew
u His face and neck get as red as IL II
|. had been taking ten mile tramp III
e der the tropical sun. We are almos
n afraid he will burst a blood vessel /
e an apoplectic At "Who Is shef re
n what ia she there? Wasn't her husban
.r that old drunkard who died in deliriul
10 tremens five months ago and who die
y. bankrupt, owing me S5OOT Yes
10 said the usher. But her own life ha
" been sweet and pure. and as she use
D. to know your family In her better DAY
N she asked for your pew. She has con
10 church because she wants TO )ol
our church" "Join our church, el
!, Yes" said the old hypocrite, Il kno
:. why she wants to join our church; 81
or wants me to help her and to let N
" children enter the society Of my ran
=. lily. I will not do 1t. Now, Mr.. Ushe
rs rs see here, this is going too far. This
~ ~ too good a church for the rabble. W
>, can start missions for the poor. d
:. not want lot of people with scanda
- - besmirching their names using US Il
80 a social hospital. l am willing to pa
-. my pew rent and help out the pastor
= salary and help support a few foreie
=. and home missions, but l am not WI
a o. Ing to be dragged into the social mt
,mn m with a lot Of ordinary clerks and po
ho erty stricken women and general ,dea
~ beats II you cannot keep this chur'
~ entirely for the exclusive class, the
a cial upper tendom,' why, Will get out
Ia God help me If have made this scel
ne too personal! Some Of you know WI
v, represents the modern Pharisee ciotn'
y -. ~ n