Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1906-05-12
CHURCH COLUMN
By j. c. shetland.

/
| introduced to his hearers a modern
Job living in Stevens County.
There was a man in the land of
Minnesota, whose name was Job, a
good citizen, an honest man and a
true friend. He was large hearted
man who loved God, avoided evil, and
helped his fellow men. And there
were born unto him large family
of sons and daughters, and his
property was seven quarter Sec
tons of land, and thousands of
| bushels of wheat, and many teams of
horses, and large focks of sheep, and
large herds of cattle, and much stock
in the telephone company, SO that
Job was one of the most prosperous
m en- of this county.
And Job taught his children to love
| God and do righteousness, and to
learn of the elder brother Christ, and
to be led of the Holy Spirit. Daily the
voice of prayer and sweet songs of
praise rose from his family altar
daily the loving family We'd with
each other in loving words and deeds,
and his life was happy as foretaste
of paradise.
But there came messenger to Job
one day, when he was in town on
business, saying, ''the stock of the
telephone company has fallen to a
very low price and you must pay
much money in assessments, or lose
it," And while he was yet speaking
there came also another saying, "The
hot winds from the south have ruined
the corn" And while he was yet
speaking there came also another
saying, "The wet weather has ruined
the wheat and the rust has taken the
remainder" And while he was yet
speaking there came also another
saying GA great hail storm GENE over
the farm from Dakota, and has killed
the sheep, and | only of those who
took care of them am escaped alone
to tell thee. Andrwhile he was yet
speaking there came also another
and said ''The cyclone has carried the
house away and killed all your family
except the girl who was dying with
consumption, and I only am escaped
alone to tell thee" And while he
was yet speaking there came also
another saying. "The mortgage on
your farm is due and the lender of
the money wants it with the interest"
Then Job stood on his farm, which
was mortgaged, stood in a shanty
beside his dying girl, stood in poverty
and hunge- and sorrow, and tho light
of his losses, and bowed before God
in sorrow and called to Heaven for
help. And Job was i'll with fever
many days, and the illness left him
weak in body and sad of heart. Yet
Job said the fashion of this world
passeth away. The Lord loveth whom
he chasteneth. The Lord God is my
refuge and underneath are the ever
lasting arms. In all this Job sinned
not nor charged God fooishly.
Now when Thomas the Republican
and Dick the Democrat, and Harry
the Populist, had heard of the mis-
fortunes of Job, they came to him to-
gether in zeal to comfort him. Yet
they did not sit down with Job in
sadness and weep with him, but
lifted up their voices high, saying
"We are Jobs comforters." Then
said Job unto them, my sorrows are
indeed many and great. | greatly
desire yea my soul is hungry for
comfort. Let me hear the words of
wisdom that shall fall from your lips.
''Jo5's comforters" prOcee ded tn COM
ort him by politics. The Popullst
talked of '1Bloated Bondholders" |
and of Public Ownership" The |
Democrat talked Reform" The
Republican pointed with pride to the
G. O. P.
The Job replied showing that there
are some things beyond the province
of politics and a life long office holder
who has no place in Heaven is an
object of pity. Then Job answered
and said, go that my grief were
weighed also. I asked for comfort
and you gave me memories of the
vanished past. Can Republican
control the rain, or prevent rust?
Can your grand old party drive away
a hailstorm? Can you manage a
cyclone. Are you the Almighty
that you can reach beyond the realm
of men? Can the eagle soar quite
into the sun? Are there no boundar-
les set to the power of politicians? Is
there no limit to their ambitions?
Can any man save his friend from
the elements, or are they above |
human control? Is there nothing |