The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-07-12

session here during the week and adj
jOurned yesterday. decided to remain
aud hear both discourseS by Pastor
Russell today. We report one of his
addresses from the text: $50 is he that
not rich toward God" duke xii. 21.)
lie said in part
Ours is the day of wealth. Nothing
to compare with it has ever been
known in the worlds history. and the
wealth is creaSing. Not merely have
we discovered rich deposits of gold and
silver and precious stones; not merely
are these being mined in a provident
and successful manner. with which
nothing In the past could compare, but
additionally the world is growing rich
in every conceivable way. Our cities
are growing in size and beauty, in san.
itary conVeniences. in spacious parks.
all the world over.
Furthermore. machinery perfected
within the last fifty years is being
multiplied and turning out articles Of
convenience and value which add to
the worlds comfort and material
wealth-not merely i'm pershable arti-
cles. such us clothing and brio a -brac.
but vast libraries, public and private.
are being acquired: and many of these
Injuries are becoming cheap. because
Of the facility with which they can be
produced. These all. however consti
tIlf q ria OILS of
amaze our ancestors.
But are we as race growing rich
toward God. as our text intimates
would he the proper thing? Is not the
very reverse true: namely. that faith
and goodness are on the decline? Is
it not true that within the last fifty
years the love of money. which the
Apostle declares is "a root of all evil"
has intensified? Is it not true that
financial greed has become so strong
and so persistent as to make necessary
our recently passed Pure food Laws
for the protection of the lives Of the
people-because life and health were
in jeopardy?
Is it not true that although we are
all better housed, better fed and better
clothed than were our forefathers.
there is general unrest. because of
the trust in riches? Is it not true that
even with all the modern safeguards
OF police and detective systems. and
the telegraph. telephone. ETC.. still hu-
man lives and property are in peril.
because of the everywhere prevalent
hunger for wealth?
"Whose Shall These Things se?"
Our text is portion of one of our
Lords parallels. In it He pictures
man whose lines were fallen in pleas
ant places. The smiling sun and genial
showers prOspered his undertakings
and his wealth grew. The opportunity
came to him for helping his friends
and neighbors and relatives less IA
vored-the opportunity for turning his
material wealth to good account in
the cultivation of the generous traits
Of his character. and thus to develop
more and more the Divine character
for God scatters His blessings. the
rain and the sunshine. upon the evil
and upon the good.
But instead Of becoming rich through
the cultivation of the noble qualities
Of his character. he allowed selfishness
to dominate. He pulled down his
barns and built greater. He accumu
lated instead Of dispensing the wealth
which Divine providence permitted to
flow into his lap. Are there not many
today who are patterning after the
character which the Lord portrayed in
this parable ?-many who are saying
10 themselves. 81 will accumulate
wealth aud then say to my soul. You
have plenty: eat. drink and be merry"
Think not particularly of your less ia
vored brethren or neighbors. nor of the
miserably pnOr: live for Yourself"
Does it not appear that the Lord has
here drawn picture of practically ev-
cry man in the world. some of whom
are really doing these things. and 9th
ers only longing for the opportunity?
Hear the Lords Estimation.
If the Lord declared that the man in
His parable was a fool. what may we