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

THE Problem of Poverty" has be-
come petrified phrase; for centur-
les the world has been familiar with
IT. Just now, however, we are hear
ing strangely little about it The
problem of today, by curious
anomaly is the problem of the rich
Society is not half so greatly con-
cerned with how to feed and edu-
cate the poor, as with the bigger
question of what to do with the eN-
tremely rich. Russian Radicalisn
has SUDDENLY precipitated the SUB
ject upon the world in terms OF eN'
treme action. 1t has proceeded OF
the assumption that the wealthy and
privileged classes have forfeited al
rights TO consideration, and even tC
justice itself. a terrible whirlwind
is being harvested from autocracys
long sowing of the wind. OF sud
den, this class issue has come to be
the war looming above the conflict
in Europe.
This is the topic that gives most
scare-heads to the current issues oil
the newspaper. The corporations
and their far-ramifying influence
are merely an expression of the prob
lem of the rich man. The power OF
the plutocrat is a fertile theme for
authors of innumerable books and
for magazine writers who trace most
of the ills that affect politics. com
merce and society directly TO the
door of the man of vast wealth. II
is undoubtedly the arrogance and ex-
travagance of the very rich that is
responsible for the tide of Socialism
that is sweeping over America. Like
wise the formal entrance of labor
unionism into national politics, thus
necessitating an ominous class cleaV-
age. is due TO the part that corporate
wealth and power have played In
legislation.
Looking Up Big Question
Whoever wants to inform hlmsell
upon this great and increasing issue
is bound to look up all available re-
liable authorities on the subject. No
serious minded person dares to be in
different to it OF course, 1t at once
becomes necessary to learn the opin-
ion of the worlds greatest Teacher
of morals and social relationship up
on this question. Which means
that the incident OF Jesus and the
rich young ruler is of current inter
est: that it is the present Sunday
school lesson is a timely coincidence
Jesus, on His way through the
country east of the Jordan, during
the month preceding His crucihXon
of heaven. His words had been very
impressive and alluring, and a GER
tain wealthy young man of fine arts
a prominent citizen, was so attract
ed that he came running TO the
Teacher, and kneeling-an eNtraor-
dinary mark of deference-inquired
good Master, what shall ! do thai
l may inherit eternal life?"
Money had not atrophied this
Young mans finer qualities. In
deed. rightly used. money Is the
greatest means to true culture. or
the other hand, there are men III
Wall Street to-day who notoriouslN
have metal hearts, close and con-
slant contact with gold has deadened
their spiritual natures. They are now
little more than animated money
bags: mere misers. Somehow, money
has this quality. Overprized, II dulls
the spirits finest sensibilities. There
is scarcely any fate more to be
dreaded by a young person or noole
qualities than that of becoming i'm
mersed in money getting and money
boarding.
Fortunately this danger had been
escaped by the rich young ruler Like
the young man who is heir TO
Americas largest fortune, he pos
the value of spiritual things. He
wanted more than he had; he was
ambitious for real life, and he had
learned that possessions do not con-
stitute life.
"'Tis life whereof our nerves are
scant,
'Tis life, not death, for which we
pant;
More life, and fuller that we want.
Goods and Goodness
Both goods and goodness were this
fortunate young mans possession. lT
answer to the question of Jesus, he
declared that ne had kept the COM
mandments from his youth up. He
must have spoken modestly, and as
truly as he knew how, for Jesus was
drawn to him in affection; he was
the type of man whom the Master
would love to have for a disciple an6
companion.
So to test the depth of the seekers
desire Jesus bade him sell what he
had and give to the poor and ther
10 join the band of disciples who fol
lowed Jesus. This was severe re-
quirement; it touched the man in hi:
most sensitive spot. Not until We
come to lay a finger upon the finan.
cial nerve do we prove the innermost
character of a person. Plenty of per
sons are converted-all except theiI
pocketbooks. AS the phrase has It.
this young mans eager devotion was
not a "purse-and-all-c ll-conseoration.'
Jesus applied the money test, not fol
the sake of the money, but for the
sake of the young man. God stif
asks for our gifts because He wants
us. 1t was proof of allegiance to the
uttermost that the Master sought.
An underlying principle of religion
is God will not be king at all unless
He can be king over ALL" Anythine
that stands in the way of free and
harmonious relation of a human