The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-02-16


-E.-.T' <'The blessing of
the Lord, it maketh rich; and He add
eth no sorrow herewith" proverbs
Z, 22) He said
The thing which strikes me specially
as l visit your great city for the first
time is the marked contrast between
the palaces of your superior quarter
and the novels OF Blacktown-the con-
trast between great riches and great
poverty. But think not that / have
come into your midst to speak words
which would engender strife or even
discomfort. Rather my message will
be one of peace. l bear you the Mes
sage of the Kingdom Of Gods dear
Son-the Kingdom for which we have
all so long prayed, "Thy. Kingdom
come; Thy will be done on earth, as
it is done in heaven" .'
The inequalities, mental and phys
ical. which prevail amongst us as mem
bers of fallen race, produce naturally
our inequalities as respects wealth and
social conditions; It is well, therefore,
that we should not accept the rabid
views entertained by many, but we
should think soberly, dispassionately.
We should not be quick to think
of the wealthy as robbers of the poor
and injurious to the general welfare,
wholly selfish and under Divine repro
baton. We should remember that God
Himself is very rich. All the gold and
the silver are His, and the cattle upon
i thousand hills, with Infinite power,
beyond human comprehension. ~.
We ,Aould remember that it is writ
ten that abraham was very rich," and
that his riches did not interfere with
the fact that he twas the friend of
God" and that to him God gave that
great promise secured by the Divine
oath, which is the basis Of all hope for
The blessing Of the world: I'm thee and
in thy Seed shall all the families Of the
earth be blessed Other noble char
acters on the pages of history are noted
as having possessed great wealth.
Many of us have erred in thinking that
the wealthy are to be measured by 9th
er standards than are the poor. And
and poor be measured by the same
moral standards the poor would be
found more noble minded than the
rich? We think not. go.
We should therefore view the mat
ter Of poverty and riches philosophy
cally. Both poor and rich should be en-
couraged to use faithfully the opportu-
mites which they possess and to wait
patiently for the Lords time and way
for the Introduction of the new order
Of things which He has promised. as
sured that it is not in our power to Ell
Their hasten or delay the Divine pro-
gram.
Bible Counsel For the Rich.
The Apostle says, Charge those
amongst you who are rich that they
trust not in uncertain riches" The
history of centuries corroborates the
Apostles words. The rich and prom
inent Of one day become the poor and
forgotten OF another. Riches take
wings in 4 manner that poverty rare
ly initiates. .~., 49,.
The talents and opportunities which
have brought great wealth to some Of
our prominent Americans have brought
wealth and prosperity in smaller
measure to those associated with them
in their enterprises. Indeed. in some
respects the entire world. and partic-
uiarly America. owes them debt of
gratitude for their energy and perse-
verance In the exercise Of their talents
and opportunities along such broad
lines. And If some of these have been
negligent Of their opportunities for the
Redistribution OF their wealth In the
interests of their fellow men. all the
more should this throw a halo Of hon
or about the heads Of those who have
remembered that wealth, like all 9th
er great talents. is to be used, not too
selfishly. but for the public good
My mind took this course Of reason
ing as / looked at the handsome edi-
fee occupied by the T.. M. c.. A. of
this city, and was informed that it
wastthe gift of one of our American
merchant princes. Mr.. John Wanna.
maker, Of New York and Philadel-
phia. / said to myself. Behold an in
stance in which riches have been gen.
erously expended. even in a far-off
land, for the benefit of the masses and
with desire to promote clean and no
BILE manhood along Christian lines.
Another Of my countrymen. Mr..
Rockefeller. has done much to promote
the enlightenment of the world by the
last year but lost with a narroy