The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-17
Contrast. I


G Contrast
(selectcd for Tho 7 ines Dispatch,)
t "There was certain rich man when
was clothed In purple and fine linen. ana
Jared sii,nptuously every day: ana there
wa q q certain beggnr named Lazarus
which was laid az his gate, full Of sore
and desiring to be fed With the crumbs IDS
which fell from the rich mans taple,
moreover the dogs came and licked MS
sores. And5it came TO pass that the beg
gar died, and was carried ~ the ahg .I
into Abraham s bosom: the rich man also
died and was buried. st. Luke XVI y
1922. MI
"a certain rich man" Is the simple pie
name Of the party whose history it. here e
given, although details IRE given o. his MS
daily life Purple In ancient times was vas
the most costly color, and, indeed q
royal one; thus cxtravaga nce and pride
were exhibited BY him who, not royal ,'!'1 y
rank, wore daily SO splendid and unusual tl1
robe. En- ,.s,Sl
IT is not, however, stated here that
there was any sin IN this man wearing
purple. 1t suited his rank It was right
for him to do So and cventf It was IN r.
consistent with his position, nothing Is
here Indicated Of rebuke It would pc pc
no benefit to society or trade 4 that the
rich and great should sclothe h em s't "
like the poor. Il N e 4 86S
In addition to the purple he wore zine nc.
linen This. was q most precious COM ON.
modify. and was sold for Its Welgh ut "
gold. Thus this man wore the m ost Costly
robes Of his @day, combined in his enjoy
nents the highest luxury with the great
est beauty, and gratlfied his pride and
vanity at any expense, He Jared sun l11l1s
tuously every day; lived In joyiatl ca as !.
and splendor: nte the best, drank the
dearest and gave himself. as they say N7ly
now, "a good time.""g Tho best was not
too good for him.
Notwithstanding this continued and pro-
longed indulgence Of himself. there is
nothing to prove any charge Of positive
dishonesty or persecution, plumber or
oppression OF the poor. AS far as we
know he was free from sany and every avery
such fragrant offcnsc. as
He passed as credItable and respect
able gentleman. He sported. read the
newspapers; cared neither for the law
nor gospel; church and Its means OF grace grace
were never considered. Whe Their the
next village was starving, Or without
schools, did not interest him. He took al
things easy, enjoyed himself, and cared
for no ono else IS ia55
1t is rather singular fact that MS
namo is not mentioned, whereas that q
the poor beggar is given. In this world
the name of the rich man Is sounded py
thousand trumpets. and is accorded
titles Of dignity and rank, But In the
heavenly world all that is reversed; the
name that was great and honored below
is not mentioned there; the name that
was scorned here ls pronounced With
acclamations through eternity.
In this world the names OF the poor
are neither known nor published; but IN
the world to come tho treasures OF tho
pious poor are all recorded. Greatness
alone5ls prominent now; goodness alone
will bio prominent there. We should al
ways prefer piety to power and substan-
tial goodness to ephemeral greatness:
The great offense Of the rich man was
this: a starving, suffering beggar was
lying/as his gates, unheeded unhelped.3
That silent spectacle accused him In the
ear OF God; that uncared for sufferer,
neglected by him, was watched before
the Throno, under whose special care lie
the poor. Lazarus was his name, Which
means ''God only his help" It Is an
evidence Of tho force and reality Of this
grand parable that It has penetrated the
Language Of almost every nation, 80 that
In every tongue of Europe lnzar 10
now tho descriptive name OF the poor.
Tho poor man was cast at the rich
mans door probably by some relatives J.
who thought wheFe there was 30 much
wealth there would be n corresponding
llberality. lIe was placed under the eye
Of tho rich man. who could neither 70
in nor out without seeing him.
Why Ia one wealthy. POSSESSED OF !elsr
ure, ,ninlstered unto by servants, sur sur
rounded by rank nnA lionors? u is
surely that he may be able to take Sa
wider View. to move In a larger horizon,
to become more fully acquainted with
life, It's burdens and It's duties One man
Is richer than another. not that he may
a,nct more Sb,,t That No NAV do moro,