Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-24
Practical, Progressive Platform.

And this program which He then enun-
ciated has been the basis Of all modern
progressive movements. In fact, the adj
vancement Of the Fast twenty centuries
is largely due to the influence of these
principles The hope of the race for the
future is found in the message of Christ,
the carpenter, that startled the Worship
ers in the Nazarene synagogue. The text
from Isaiah dealt with the coming 4nes-
siah and furnished the basis of the five
principles that Christ presented as his
platform The first was a message of
good cheer to the poor. The Mosaic laws
made ample provision for the poor and
their care. Its laws in reference to the
ownership Of land prevented the develop
ment of the landlord class. for the year
of jubilee, which came every fifty years.
was period of grace and gladness, when
all debts were Cancelled. Family property.
which had been lost by debts. was re-
stored. and the nation made a new start.
Jesus recognized that financial progrs IS
was not the essential thing, SO He
brought the poor, who felt that no one
cared for them, the message of God s
love tina. lifted the burden OF poverty by
enabling them to live each day strength
ened by the love and fellowship Of God.
their Father. And from this gospel of
love developed the mutual care of each
member of the early church. While there
may be some basis for the charge that
the church Of Jesus Christ has not al
ways and everywhere given its attention
to the poor, that marked the ministry
of Our Lord, we know that modern phi
lanthropy that has reduced to a science
the care Of the poor has been inspired by
the teachings of the Christ. This prob
lem of poverty Is q problem that every
Christian and every church should make
an effort to solve. In our own day the at
tempt of Lloyd George in England along
MS line Is testimony to the power OF
Christ's gospel, which has as much Of a
message to the poor of today as it did to
those of Christ's time.
The second principle was that Of free
dom, liberty to the captives." Jesus is
the great emancipation of the race To
the man in the cordage of iniauity He
comes with the power to break the
shackles of sin. The men who are i'm
prisoned for the sake of His gospel have
been given power by which their bonds
Bedford jail. had vision Of Christians
progress. Judson in the heathens iail
slept securely upon pillow that con-
tanned his. translation of the Bible into
the language of the people Of Burma
The men who have suffered persecution
for righteousness sake have all had the
blessing of the freedom that Christ gives
to all His message was also of light.
for He proclaimed the recovery of sight
to the blind The opening of mems
eyes that they might see tie grandeur OF
this world is nothing to the opening of
the eye of the soul so that they might
behold the beauty and the glory of the
Lord. Jesus pointed to His restoring OF
sight to the blind as a. sign that would
reveal to John. shut up in prison. the
answer to his question as to whether He
was the Messiah. The man whose ewes
Christ opened came to tae point where
he would stand religious persecution for
the one he worshiped as the Messiah. If
we would tell the world how our auoc
were opened 1t would be welcome news
to them, lin whom the God OF this world
hath blinded the minds of them which
believe not" and hasten the hour when
they shall see the Christ as their Savior.
The fourth promised help Ito them that
are bruised" by the CALLING chains OF sin
that cut so deeply and soreiv into the
soul The sosDaI alitise.,tic vsn;,ld Ja.,