The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-02-16

place in the worlds reforms. Who
has not had the woes of intemperance
made vivid while reading Ten Nights
In a Bar Room?' Who can estimate
the humane teachings of Black Beau
ty' or joe and many a dumb lie
has had less of torture because OF them
What the work which Uncle Toms
Cabin did for the slave: and Dickens
portrayals of the educational wrongs
in England did for the English youth,
is well known. We today. however,
arc living in time when the didac-
tic story is more tho rule than the
exception I'm literature. Most OF our
novels of today are written with a
motive,
"There may be a wide difference be-
tween the wealthy man and the ava
riclous man. In the dellneatlon OF the
story OF "A Certain Rich Man as
have given il TO you, am sure you
noted that some of the characters
were very rich In life that was true
and deep while John Barclay, the man
OF the story, was rich only In gold.
And yet his life had q rich and true
beginning. but as he gave more and
more time to the goal OF external
riches and daily forgot the real heart.
mind and soul within. the life Of that
which was neglected was atrophied and
was losT. We have seen trees die like
that. They have wlthered at the top
and the fruit has shriveled and fallen
and the leaves crumbled while the
roots were gathering. new physical
strength daily. And Thackeray has
left for us the dclineation of friend
who IN youth had such riches OF heart,
mind ard soul that he was the choice
companion In all that made for real
and abiding friendship but after re-
ceiying u great fortune he so lost his
old life that he could only speak OF
meats and drinks and surfcltiDgs.
Mans life consisteth not In the
abundance that he possesseth. and
the day John Barclay forgot that he
turned into the way which led to his
own sad end and contributed TO the
awful misery of those about him.
Nov. in this parable of the Christ
we can but read between the lines and
see how the rich man was blinded by
his coyetousness until he became OBJ
llvlouS to all but his own self. 1t
was q day when there was great suf-
fering becauee OF disease and poverty
and yet he could not see any other
use for his wealth than that Of self
qualification. All must be as grist to
his own mill The lives that had
helped him were forgotten when they
needed help. 1t is the glory OF wealth
today that It can show to the world
men Ike Parsons. Kennedy Plnchot,
Af1GnrrpInlrs tuhn
having riches, have used 1t as II they
were stewards.
1T is the shame OF wealth that so
often humanity is forgotten The
most pathetic part OF this story lies
in the way In which the lives that
helped John Barclay are forgotten
when once no has no more need of
them. In this the tragedy OF the book
Is made complete. And yet we be-
lleve II will be ever so until the gos-
pei OF Christ finds deep and true lodg-
ment In the hearts OF men. Only when
the pure ideals Of life and service
which are found in the man Christ
Jesus. the Divine teacher, are en-
throncd in real life. then. and not till
then. will the goals of the reformer
be realized.
THE Parable of Christ and the
Certain Rich Man teach In no uncer-
tain words the folly OF considering
wealth and happiness as synonymous
terms Mcthinks life today, If we
read IL well, teaches the same lesson
clearly The daily press is a sad COM
mentary upon the joyous rich How
few of them know the meaning OF an
elght-hour day? How seldom they are
ever content to stop in time TO save
physical health. and how often an aw-
full curse rests upon their children. as
there did in this story when the only !
child becomes at last the victim Of the !
fathers greed?
Roman History tells this vivid |
story: There was man living a. |
Rome who. on the day Christ spoke
this parable. was a sad example OF |
Its truth. TiberIus, emperor OF the |
empire, had been until his hfty-siNth
year a man of sterling worth. Brave
In battle. eloquent ~ speech, noble in
character, kind and humane to friend
and foe. He had been one who hsd
richly enjoyed life Al the age OF
nfty.siN he was made emperor, and
wealth and power in Unlimited meas
ure werc now his own. From that
day Tiberlus went down Everything
was surrendered TO SELF and pleasure.
In the Bay of Naples. on a beautiful
Island. he built a wondrous palace.
From there. in answer to a letter
from the senate telling him II had
given him the tltle OF god he wrote
IN reply. What 10 write you Conscrlpt
Fathers. or how 10 write may all the