Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-08

and owner of the earth. His was the
land and the first fruits and the cat
tie on the thousand hills. He gave
the earth only to man to use. There
was an elaborate judicial system for
providing every Jewish family with
the use of a parcel of land. A land
less man was contrary to the inten'
of the law. The monopoly of LAND
which prevails today more or less in
all Christian countries, and the
crowding of homeless people into
great cities, would have been abhor-
rent to the ancient Jew. When sucf
a condition did somewhat develop,
the prophet Numbered againt it
Opportunity to All.
THE law meant opportunity to all
1t had numerous and minute provis-
ions for the relief of the poor and
needy Hence the injunction to leave
some of the grain in the corners of
the fields and along the burrows so
that the poor might CLEAN also, and
to leave some clusters of grapes for
needy hands to pluck. Such kind
considerable acts towards the poor
would help the favored to rise from
the level of mere justice to that of
generosity, and would educate them
to understand the noble impulses of
a liberal heart, and to grasp more
fully the divine principle of mercy
in all Gods dealings with his peo-
pie.
ut has been stated that the worlds
great problem in the past has been
poverty but that the worlds greater
problem in the future will be wealth.
But we strongly suspect the one will
be as great as the other to the end
of time. 1t is true that the wealth
of the United States increased thir-
teen-fold from 1850 to. 1900, and
since 1900 at the rate of over four
ands half billion dollars a year, OF
$13, 000,00O,0O0 day, and yet there
are some 100000 people in actual
want in these United States today
of those who die receive pauper bur-
ial. In other great centers of popu
lation conditions are not essentially
different. In 1890 nearly 76S,5OO
women were wage earners
Why should such a large number of
wives and mothers have to toll in
sweat shops and factories to support
their families in this land of plenty
Seventy Per Cent Women,
About 70 per cent of those employ |
ed in sweat shops in making clothing
are women. The wages paid are $1.45 |
,or making $40 suit, S1.96 for making |
l SIS suit, $3.50 for $50 suit. Even |
oy working until late at night these |
)oor women can hardly earn 81 day. |
Have we no obligations to the poor in |
hese United States? Can a Christian |
nan be unconcerned for the 100000 |
destitute; for the 100000 married wo-
men toiling in sweat shops and factor
es? Can a true Christian woman be |
lnconcerned at the white slave traffic |
hat has ensnared 100000 women in |
life of shame in these United States?
But what can we do? What can be |
lone to right these wrongs? Among |
he answers given and remedies pro
posed we Christians must go to Him
Who alone can solve all problems that
rex humanity. We must go to Christ
md listen to His message for our age
md for all ages. He has laid down
hat through the observance of these
he kingdom of God might come to
men. These rules or laws are three in
lumber and are fundamental to the
social and spiritual welfare of our
ace.
1.-The first law is the law of service.
rhe Son of Man Is come not to be min
stored unto, but to minister If the
aw of service were binding on the
Master, it is certainly binding on His
disciples. He makes service to poor,
sick and suffering humanity the final
est of believers.
Service and Sacrifice.
But with the law of service goes
he law of sacrifice. Both in His life
and death Jesus exemplified this law.
He also made the law of sacrifice
binding on every disciple. The cruel
ixion of selfishness is the memorable /
condition of gaining peace and saliva
ion alike for the individual and So
,iety A selfish man is lost man, re-
CARELESS of position, possession, or pro-
'ession. He is out of harmony with
God and the universe Self-abnegation
s the very narrow gate of the way of
ife.
But we have not only service and
sacrifice, but also the law of love. This
s the fundamental law as it WHITES
he other two so that we can obey
hem. To him who loves, service is
privilege, and sacrifice Is joy. The
aw of love is the inward law and
hose of service and sacrifice are the
outward expressions of that law. Love
without sacrifice and service is dead.
Sacrifice and service without love is
efined selfishness, i. g., pure CONNER
,ialism The three social laws of
[esns are this really one and may be