The Newtown bee., 1904-04-22
SOCIAL TOPICS.
SOCIAL ALLEVELS-BY o. O. WRIGHT.

Water finds it's level; and so does hu- man nature. Birds of a feather flock together; and so the people of different classes fall into groups, sets, cliQues, and parties, according to occupations, tastes, and various types of character, or reputation. You cannot bring a score of persons together in any social event, and give them free intercourse with each other, but they will illus scious of what they do, and may not be able to give a good reason for it should you call their attention to what they have done. But nine times out of ten you will find them breaking up, as to the whole number, into duets, trios and quartets. They may be in- timate friends; they may have some mutual interest in particular; they may simply reside in the same neigh borhood; they may have had the same grade of schooling; they may represent similar degrees of wealth; they may belong to the same set; it may be the style and quality of their clothes which attracts them. Likes and dislikes may lead to various combinations of social intercourse; curiosity may draw people together for the time being; mere physical attraction sometimes makes a social center; and so like the endless changes of the kaleidoscope, individ ualS are grouped classified and brought to their own social levels.
 On the other hand you will find peO- pie stunning one another because of the well known difference of which we have spoken. Like not only likes it's likes, but dislikes it's unlikes. The poor man is not at ease with the rich man; and may be prejudiced against him. The woman who wears plain, cheap clothes will not be found under the shadow of the well-dressed woman. The man who is ignorant, and knows enough to realize it, will not seek out the man of learning to converse with him, probably. And so we are not only drawn but driven into groups and classes in our social life. Persons are so different, in body, soul and spirit, that they do not sympathize, and understand each other; and it is l only those of the highest culture, at tainments and experiences that can comprehend and harmonize, and meet the whole company, each on his own | level; as the greater includes the less, and the whole is the sum of all it's parts. The Son of Man can under stand and sympathiZe with all men | because He alone knows what IS in man: and was touched with the feeling of all human infrmities.
 There are classes of people; there have always been classes; there always will be classes. We live, and move, and have our being on different social levels. In the nature of the case it must be so. We are different by nature; we are different by our educa- l fJ hv ha nf God. One man has ten talents, an-
 And even the gifts of the Spirit are
 different. It is silly therefore to talk about equality. There is no equality
 We are not equal in gifts, attachments,
 faithfulness, nor capacity. If you could make men equal in any sense
 they would not, could not continue so
 for one day. Give each an equal pound,
 as in the parable, and one would gain
 ten pounds, another five, another two, and many would hide it and lose it: and then insist on new deal.
 Equality would defeat the divine
 purpose of this life. If all were alike
 there would be one dead level of social StagnatiOn, and no motive to any great endeavor. But in the Providence of God every one is honOred and pro- noted, rewarded and exalted according to his work. Every one may rise in the scale of life from level to level,
 from the lowest to the highest, accord ing to his talents and gifts of grace. To him that hath shall be given. From him, that which he neglects to use shall be taken away.
 | Social levels may be natural, or they may be spiritual. They may be deter | mined by the external conditions of life, or by the Spirit of life. Ones position in society may be matter of ] inheritance, or education, or of per