The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-02-23

ton offered by your correspondent
from Clay Lick in Citizen of Febru
airy 9Th is hereby approved that we
put the terms "hptsam' and "ictsam'
10 an acid test a. applied to Christ'-
poor Three terms Of sea wrccka e
are defined in our old English Alt-
sam. ietsom and ligm The later =
term i'm law where goods lost in the
sea are tied - a rLol ,r cork and
always get safely =, bore. Either
term used as a metaphor or simile
can be- applied to the poor in purse,
the down and out element buffcting
the waves Of difficulty on lifc's sea.
The notsam illustrates those who
drift with the tide without any def
mite goal - "wells without water,
clouds without ram" The jetsam
represents the victim of unbelef.
The drunkard, or drug addict, water.
soaked. they sink in oblivion, "un-
knelled, uncofTined. and unconfned.'
The ligan, an example of "Saved by
aith," buoyed up by hope, comes
safely to the shore and is rescued.
This element only can be classified
with those who seek industrial activ-
ity and may be essential 10 any COM
munity." However, the current that
leads these separate elements into
new communities is more often the
result of idleness and improvidence.
The ne'er do well who lead nomadic
lifes in search Of "fresh pastures"
and "loaves and fishes that never
multiply in their grasp-"idleness,
like the tortoise, travels slowly, and
poverty, like the hare, eventually
overtakes and captures" Poverty
must not always be considered in the
nature Of an affliction but usually
state of life appointed by God for
the exercise Of trials which promote
patience, contentment, and resigna-
ton. Only as nations become cor
rupted by great wealth is there more
disgrace attached to poverty, and
more adulation 10 riches. Conse-
quently two questions arise which, if
properly answered, would tend TO rus.
verse the order of things-"What
keeps some poor? and what makes
Others rich?" "If the true secret
were known. the poor would often be
proud of their poverty and the rich
ashamed of their wealth" Satan Sc
lects his followers from the ranks Of
the idle. TRADITION says that Judas
was street-loafer). Christ chose
His disciples Except Judas) from the
men busy at work, mending, and cast
ing nets. The kingdom to which
each belonged claimed its own and
rewarded them accordingly. The
terms fotsam, jetsam, and ligan
might also be applied to the poor in
spirit-drifting doubling, ignorant,
athirst, need, and murmuring. The
kind that while it fills with pity,
the self-righteous often draw back
their garments lest the touch contain
mate. But "He received them and
spake unto them of the kingdom and
healed them that had need of heal
ing" and sealed them with the signet
Of His love, saying BLESSED are the
poor in spirit, for theirs is the king.
dom of heaven Yet we do wonder
at times why the Lord permits such
conditions. Why he sends the storm ?
Why ships spring leak? Why are
valuable cargoes shipwrecked? Why
"man, the noblest work of God" must
suffer poverty and hardships. Ger
tainly some things pull our faith try
our temper, and puzzle our brains,
but we dare not question the Lord S
|, power He who launched them on
, the wild sea has promised "When
! thou passeth thru the waters III be
, with thee" There is a deep, sweet
lesson here for us. The Lord does
not always take away the fearful
things, but takes the fear out of
them, and unless we are lineal de-
scendants of Jobs friends we get a
glimpse of the joy that comes with
these words; "Be Of good cheer, il
, is I, be not afraid. IL. X. F.