Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-12-05


Carter can afford to let his children go
to Sunday school barefooted. we can
afford to let OURS go also" SO the
poorer children sat every Sunday side
by side with the rich. That was a
beautiful thing to do. It was worthy
Of follower Of him who made him
self of no reputation. Are we men of
that kind in our Intercourse with our
fellows? Are we willing to go bare
footed for Christ's sake? Are we will
Ing to associate with the poor? Are
we ready to spend our lives in trying
to help our fellow men to the cross
In your daily intercourse with your
fellow men are you living for God?
How are You different from the man
Of the world in his social intercourse
With his fellow men?
Leaving the subject, let me ask how
we differ from the world in our flnan-
rial relations. There is an old proverb
which says, when you touch
mans pockctbook, then you find that
mans heart is turned to stone" So
too often, when you touch a mans
nocketbook then you find his love for
God Is turned to stone The Bible
represents Satan as saying that n man
will give everything for his life That
is true in one sense, but false in an
other for too often man will sur
render not only his earthly life, but
his spiritual life, for gold.
Here. for instance is merchant
down in his store. For years he has
been a slave to business. He always
talks poor because he Is always put
ting his money back into the business
The store grows larger md larger
Now It takes IN half block. What
are you working for, merchant To
make a larger business? What Is the
good Of that? Have You not enough
money saved up TO I've uponW "Oh
yes. can never spend all | have
But have pride in my work must
keep on increasing the size of my bust
ness" SO year by year he works. He
never thinks of the spiritual welfare
Of his employees. he never thinks Of
the good he could do with his money.
IIo never identifies himself with any
phlanthropic movement. for which his
business training has so rnarvclously
fitted him. But he works on piling up
his gold until his health begins to
break One day he goes TO the doctor
and the physician says, MY friend, If
you do not stop working you will die
"rhen die | must" he answers, 'for
my business IS my li1e.' Arc You to-
day in your devotion TO business doing
eny differently from the pharisees and
the rubllcans? In what way have vow
Iot paICtnH n tEn
cause of Christ? SHOW me any diffcr-
ence If you can between yourself and
the selfish, mercenary man Of the
world There Is absolutely none.
You say that your love for gold does
not diminish your love for God Well,
we will grant this If you will answer
Alright two or three questions. For
some years have heard you denouncc
some OF the leading financ!ers Of our
great trusts or business monopolcs as
q collection of thieves and robbers.
You say these men have done more to
debauch our legislatures and judiciary
and to undermine the moral and spir
itua life of our country than any other
single means during the last century.
Suppose you had grounds for your
statement and that what you said was
true. The highwayman who places
the pistol to the forehead OF the pedes
TRAN and demands that he surrender
his all is not more of a scoundrel than
IS the man at the head of a>monopoly
who brushes the opposition of his rival,
but now that he is between the mill
stones himself who has your sym
pathy?
The Sin Of the Monopolist.
But, though the evils of these trust
monopolies may be all that you depict,
answer me this question; Suppose that
today one OF these trust masnateS
should offer to give you stock in his
company worth 100000, would you
take it? Then suppose this stock paid
IN annual dividend Of 80 per cent,
would you at once dispose of It be-
rause it was made out of the wreck of
other fortunes? Or take another Illus
traton: Suppose next Sunday morning
by breaking the laws of the Sabbath
day you could sell piece of real es-
tate and make 81 800 on the deal, would
you stay away from the house of God
In order to do it? How IS your life
different in financial way from
that of the man Of the world? If you
could make enough money thereby,
would you not be willing to compro-
mise your public pledges to your Lord
Jesus Christ?
But there is another question I wish
70 ask: What are you doing as a Chris.
.ian patriot? How are you different
from the men Of the world in this re
Tpect? Are you thinking of your coun-
try only as social organism whose
business it is to project you and care
for you and benefit you, or are YOU
thinking of it and planning for 1t as n
great Christian government which can
protect all its own and be 4 mighty in.
ternational power which can help draw
III the human race to Christ?
The Asiatic Question.
Even from the standpoint OF the ma
ion you can honor or dshonor the
ross of Christ. Take, for instance, the
Asiatlc immigration question, which Is
1pheaving the Pacific coast. And,
mark you, am not today simply al
udinG to the Asiatic immigration into
he United States only, for Canada IS
To-