The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-05-12

should not blind us 10 the tremendous
strides that are being made IN our
own time toward social justice. II
would be less than fair to forget the
host Of men and women OF wealth
who are genuine lovers Of mankind,
and whose deepest passion, and con-
slant endeavor, is to administer their
possessions as a trust for their fellow
men. This is no day for pessimism,
even in contemplating so grave a stu
alton as the present status of wealth
and poverty.
Shall Dives and Lazarus Change
Places?
Many persons are predicting a vlo-
lent revolution in our own land and
time, a bloody struggle to overthrow
King Plutos and to install King Demos
in his stead. l do not fear this. There
is a saving sense of sanity in this
western world, due largely to Ions ex-
erCiSe of the power Of
ment, which Ook at ex-
tremistS and preachers Of violence.
Our Anglo Saxon regard for personal
and property rights acts as a brake
upon precipitate action. There are
no such clearly-marked class lines as
created the revolutions of Europe.
And under the present form Of gov
eminent, it is proving possible for So
ciety to correct ages-old evils by the
orderly processes OF law.
On every side, the present horizon
shows huge portentS, which indicate
that Dives is to be retained and
limited, and made to act in a JuSter
and more b%rotherly fashion; and that
Lazarus is to be given a fairer ppO
tunity. 1t does not cOmpOrt with the
twentieth century's conception of
manhood that any man. however poor,
should lie suffering as a beggar at
another's gate, dependent upon the
latter's whim for sustenance. Our
common sense tells us, however, that
to reverse the relative positions Of
Dives and Lazarus is no permanent
Jr., often becomes a very offensive
Dives, and Dives, Jr., a DOOR type Of
mendicant. The nOisily exploited
program for a footing Of those who
have, to the enrichment Of those who
have not, is not sound, by economic,
social or S%criptural standards.
Taking Two Worlds Into Account.
The wonderful story told by Jesus,
in the face Of the powerful party who
were turning up their aristicrat.c
noses at Him and His followers, be-
cause Of their poverty-quite as the
idle rich sheer at the poor as if lack
Of money were a sufficient evidence OF
their unfitneSs-brOught to bear a
mighty factor in the problem Of social
inequality. Jesus condemned Dives,
of course; unbrotherly wealth canno
stand for a moment in the clear light
of Christ's truth.
But Jesus said; in effect: Take
long look. Nothing is settled unit
it is settled finally; and in all ques-
tons betW cen man and mani which
are also Questions between man anc
God) another life than this must be
taken into account. Two world:
figure il all of Gods r~eckOnings
Dives has a momentary advantage
and Lazarus a mOmentary disadvan
tage, but let me draw aside the cur
tain and show O the next act
Here we have the principle, otter
PERVERTED by wealth in an attempt t
avoid present duty, but a vital prin
Ciple, none the less. hat heaven en-
ters into earth's affairs. The eterna
God is going to square all accounts
and he has a long time in which to d
it. The o%fenses Of time must b.
? reckoned with in eternity. Dives
without any advantage from hi
wealth or social position. must STAN
= before the judgment seat of Go
AS Henry Martyr said of the rlc.
= man in the parable Had he remem
! bered on earth. he would not hav
4 been called to remember in hell
S If the parable teaches anything,
teaches the existence ol d HcIcd1le
: with an ultimate reward or punish
ment for the deeds done in the f1esf
Definitions may differ; but the fact {
a conscious eternity for mortal spiri'
is ~inwrOught in the teachings {
Jesus. 1t makes for philosopher
n breadth and patience to contemplat
n this earthly spar as only an minutes
NAL arc of the circle of our real lf
Is Poverty a Passport to Heaven?
n Because Dives went to hell an
= Lazarus to heaven, some shallow il
is terpreters have assumed that the rio
Z are doomed to perdition and the poo
Is destined to paradise. God is nc sno
He does not award mems future a.
ir cording to their rating in earth's 81
he cial registers. 1t was not because
or his beggary and sores that Lazar1
tie found rest in the bosom of Abraham
er who in life was a wealthy sheik
Lazarus Won to glory because of h
ne faith in God: he stored up his rich