Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-04-26
~ VILLAIN T. ELLIS

one might venture to say. this barrier
I Is money!, must be sacrificed. God is
"a jealous God" He demands first
place in the hearts of all disciples.
1t is vain to hope for the rewards of
religion here or hereafter so long as
God is denied complete sovereignty
over our life. This attractive seeker
after truth had noble pulse; so far
good: but he had not. what is equally
essential the courage to follow the
truth he found. He wanted life. but
he also wanted goods, and in the test
ing. he chose the latter-only TO
have his property ravaged by the Ro-
mans few years later.
With absolute conviction it may
be stated, that the one sufficient
remedy for society's present ills aris-
ing from the greed or heedlessness OF
the wealthy is the same as that pre-
scribed in the case of the rich young
ruler-complete submission to Jesus
Christ. Only religion can redeem the
rich. None of the social schemes that
are so freely proposed can save So
ciety from its Grass materialism: ac-
ceptanCe of the teachings of Jesus
can. a revival of pure Christianity
would do more to remove the causes
of present popular unrest than all
other agencies combined.
A Tight Squeeze for the Plethoric
Startling and paradoxical were the
words uttered by Jesus when the
rich young man chose wrongly. He
declared it a moral impossibility for
rich man to enter heaven. only the
illimitable power of God. with whom
all things are possible, He declared,
enables the rich man to become n
member of the eternal kingdom. He
said, TT is easier for camel to go
through a needles eye. than for a
rich man to enter into the kingdom
of God" This strong figure has
been toned down by some commen-
tators by the statement that Jesus
may have meant the small gate in
the city's wall intended only for ped
estrians, through which a belated
camel could enter only by being
stripped of his burdens and trap
pings. This is ingenious. but un-
likely. Jesus words probably meant
Just what their surface significance
striking figure of impossibility: He
/ plainly says that from a moral stand
/ point, the admission of the man who
( trusts in riches into the heavenly
kingdom is impossible. but "all things
are possible with God"
Doubtless many moneyed persons
. to-day share the disciples amaze
ment at this seemingly eXtravagant
speech of the Teacher, who was no
. demagogue. It is a common belief
. that money can do anything. 4 mil
lionaire may buy his way into $50
ciety' or into the United States Sen
ate He may influence legislatures
and even courts. He may find obse-
quious attention on every hand. Old
world nobility will seek his daugh-
ter's hand in marriage. Private cars
and palatial yachts may transport
him anywhere in the world. All this
and more will money do. But it can
not open the gates of heaven: rather
1t can hinder entrance thereto.
Riches That Endure
There are riches that perish and
riches that last; and the wise mar
seeks to be rich for two worlds. Thi.
was brought out by Peters some
what nonplussed question, apropos OF
the subject of riches, as to what
would be the portion of those who
left all and followed Jesus.
Thereupon the Master enunciated