Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-26
The Times-Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
THE RIGHT AND DUTY TO work.
Ny y. a. I;ui,Rnk.

Hy IL a. Eubnnk.
And about the eleventh hour he went out
and found others standing lille. and saith
unto them. Why stand ye here all the day
idlc?-Matthcw Nx. 6.
In this parable of the laborers Christ
shows that in the Kingdom of God there is
work for every one to do. and He sounds the
call for every ono to go To work.
in country where government is sound
ly and justly administered there should be
no enforced idlcness. Natures resources are
so incxhaustible that there is always place
for one more worker. with the promise OF
ample reward for his faithful labor.
Activity Is the essential law Of life. and
IN so far as animal existence is concerned
all normal growth is contingent upon IL.
Hence tho natural law OF ones being I'M
ceasinSly spurs him to continuous action.
Nature abhors the idle and in her economy
has provided no riEhtrul place for him TO
parasite upon her favors.
Yet in every land. including our own Amer
lea, there lis the menace of tho army of the
unemployed. This vast army Is constantly
recruited through the operation OF strikes
and lockouts. This in the face of tho fact
that Nature is yielding more and more from,
the srcat storehousc OF her treasures. to tho
marvellous multiplication OF tho aggregate
wealth of the nations.
There is an underlying cause bnck Of this
wise chargcablc.
What is the cause? That is the problem
whose solution must he pointed out by wise
and unseiish statcsmanship. and the remedy
must bc enforced by n people animated by
the spirit and teachings Of the gentle Naza-
rene Philosopher.
AS broad proposition. may justly as
sumo that NIL enforced idlcness In this or
any other country is the result OF govern
ment unsoundly administered. either through
tho operation OF unwise laws or of laws
sound III principle, but unjustly and UNEQUAL
~ admnls cred That such misSovernmen
is largely founded In the sclnshncss and
greed which is the controlling passion of :,
large proportion Of the human race NAV be
readily admitted without cxtcnuatinC it in
the least. Against this PASSION SO dominant
In the world there is implanted in the breast
oil every human being the opposite spirit
whose conStraininE influence seeks ever
more TO lift him above his narrowncss
into the realm of true fraternity out OF which
grows all real nroGrcsr
To d"v""p this spirit OF fraternity in man
KIND is one Of the highest duties that socict v
owes To itself. Wherever selfish exclusive
ness exists in any portion Of tho countrx's
population. "" may know that society has
been rcmtss in its duty. To protect its own
existence r. must cncourar 20 tho development
or the h hest traits in human nature. Whcr-
ever sci.ishy exclusive circlcs fastcn them
selves upon society. IL has become affected
with n generous growth that will eventually
eat out its own heart. II no, Topped on
So as in the lesson OF the text wherein
IL Is shown that in the Kingdom Of God
there Is work for every one 10 do. socict y
operating through its various organized avcn-
cics. owes the duty to itself Ia establish con-
dItions which shall max" il possible for every
strong and willing arm t" find n place to In
nor ana To receive a just measure OF reward
for the service thus rendered