Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-10-25
Idlers Both INDECENT and Oppulent
BY BISHOP WARREN 4. GAMBLER

There is a trite. but wise saying IAN
idler's head is the DEVILS Workshop"
II we accept it as true, we must con-
clude that the factories of the fiend are
multiplying at an alarming rate. The
number of our idlers is legion upon
Iegions. We have mendicant idlers
among the INDECENT classes. and opulent
idlers among the classes which are above
want. Generally we are harder in our
judgements upon the idle beggars than
we are upon our wealthy idlers. and to
a thoughtful mind there seems to be
no good ground upon which to rest such
partial discrimination. Perhaps the
basis of our condemnation of idle indi-
gence and of our appreciation of idle
opulence is the idea that work is not
duty except to save US from want, and
that idleness is not a sin If we can live
well without toll. But is this notion
valid? Hardly.
1t is said that with the aid of modern
machinery one-tenth of mankind, work
ing ten hours a day, could support in
comfort the other nine-tenths of the
race. Let us suppose that the world
were so organized that one-tenth could
be conscripted for labour to support all
the rest, or that two-tenths could be thus
| conscripted in order to have two shifts
| of hands to work and rest alternately,
would the remaining three-fifths be JUS
titled in wasting their lives in indo-
lence? Well, by one way and another
| many thousands are exempted from
working for their daily bread; they are
F! living upon the accumulations which
have arisen from the toll of others. Some
are living upon the coined sweat of in
dustrious ancestors. Some are living up
on the fruits of labour which have float
| ed to them on the chance currents OF
commerce; others upon the fortunes OF
| marriage, and still others upon the acct
dents of lucky combinations. 1t matters
not what may be the sources of their
unearned comforts, every man of them
| is under Gods great law >of labour. and
| If he seek to escape 1t he thereby be-
comes a fugitive from justice and a dis
reputable deserter from the great army
| fighting for the welfare of our race.
Exemption from want should be held as
a providentia1 appointment to some high
err service for the uplifting of the world.
If one is not needed to keep up the COM
missary stores of the race. he should be
found on the firing line courageously adj
'vancing upon the foes of ignorance and
vice which withstand the progress of
mankind. But alas! such is not the posi-
ton of multiplied thousands, who having
all sorts of luxuries for themselves,
waste their substance in riotous living
and will neither work nor fight They
despise an idle beggar. and drive him
from their doors with an exhortation to
go work to relieve his want; but in truth
they are as idle as he. and just as CEN
surable although more fortunate. Why
do they not go to work? Do they imagine
that there is no need for work and no
motive for work except such as want
gives rise to? Do they know no other
spur to industry than that of the stom-
ach's call for food and the body's de-
mand for raiment? Is there no other
work needed in the world except that
which makes victuals and clothes? Be
cause one suffers neither hunger nor cold.
is he therefore justified in his Incidence?
To ask these questions is to answer them.