Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-09-03

The Rev. Harold s. Davidson o.
the Congregational church preach
ed the following sermon on Sun
day, August 81. His text was:
"Jesus said unto him, Go anc
sell that thou hast and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven; and come and follow
me"-Matthew 1921.
| sometimes think, in reading The
Gospels, that if Jesus could but
come back and tell us in very-day
English what He taught His first
followers, we might view the wholt
matter of Christianity very differ,
emily. / am sure that many who
are prejudiced against the churCt
would give him their unqualified
support. | fear that there may be
those who are members of the
church and who give literally OF
their means to its support, WnC
might regard him as a dangerous
teacher; and, as in his own day
his enemies would be found moi
only without, but also within, the
circle of religious people The fact
that there are so many who are
members of the church who see
nothing inconsistent in living ex.
travagantly and luXuriOusly while
they view the pitiable condition OF
many about them as none of their
concern, shows how far the church
has got away from the viewpoint OF
Jesus Christ. The plain man sees
the inconsistency of this. PerhaTs
his own life is just as selfish, but
he thinks, somehow, that tile
church should stand for something
different, and that those who are
members of it should look at life
from a somewhat different view
point from that of those who are
not.
There have been many attempts
to explain the passage before Us.
Some have said that it means jus,
what it says. Others have con-
tended that it cannot mean that,
for, manifestly, it is not condl-
tion of discipleship to sell every
thing one has and give the pro-
ceeds to the poor.
This morning | am going to try
to make clear what ! think is the
meaning of the message by slppos-
ing a somewhat similar situation at
the present time. We will suppose
that young man arises among
US. He has been brought up in the
country. He goes to one of oar
great cities, and sees indications CT
enormous wealth everywhere. Man
sions rise before him to which
kings of other days could not hope
to aspire. Automobiles for each
member of the family, for business
and pleasure, for city and country
Costumes too superb for princesjes
OF old, made to be worn but once
and to be replaced by something
more elaborate on the morrow. No
luxury too costly. Absolutely nc
end to the splendor which money
will buy. And this not the result
of hard, painstaking toll, of indus
try wisely directed, of great eX-
ecutiye ability in the world of ILL.,
ance. This man, is may be, inner
tied his fortune from his father, or
owned some city lots which came
into his hands by the meres'
chance, or got possession of some
public utility, watered the stock
and cleaned up his millions, which
the public will have to pay Tor
while, instead of finding a place
in the penitentiary with his poortI
brother in rascality, he lives in lux
Try without stint. Across the citj
another condition of things is |;
be seen. Here the poor are huddleo
together in such way as to make
moral living an impossibility. The
children grow up to be Just HE
their fathers and mothers, original
depraved, without ambition, with
out patriotism. And so long as
conditions continue as they are il
cannot be different.
The young man sees 1t all lie
talks with some of the church
people about it. "Oh," they say
1--WE are doing a great deal fti
charity in this city" And Their
they tell him of very liberal gifts
to the bureau of charity by promi-
nent citizens. "Oh, yes" they say
"this city is very good to the
poor"
The young man, however, Is moi
satisfied. He goes to his room AID
thinks it over. Something must be
done, ne says, A great thoush'
strikes him. He will inauGurate
movement that will bring about
change in the condition of things
He will get men to see the igno'
bility of the strong showing aside
the weak and trampling dpor
them in the struggle for bread just
as swine do at the trough. He vii
persuade them to Join him in
movement to better the condition
of the poor, to help the unfortun'
ate to get on their feet, to CIV
them not charity but a chance Il
make a living and to become mer
and women. He finds many l.
sympathy with his ideal Crowds
flock to hear him. The movement
grows.
one day, while a crowd is listen
ing spell-bound to his stlrrln,
words, a young man rides up in nj
automobile. He bids his chauffeu'
stop that he may hear what is he
ing said. He grows interested.
s'That fellow" he says to him
self, sis getting something out o
life. He is living for an ideal
What does my life, with all its lux
uries unstinted. amount to? III
could get interested in some sue!
movement as that, / would not fine
life such a bore"
When the address is finished, h
bids his chauffeur ride up that h
ray speak with the young refer
mer.
pardon me-" he begins, but
wish to tell you how much l an
in sympathy with what you hav
been saying. You have certainl,
hit the nail on the head"
"You believe in these things
them
eyes, indeed" answered the ricl
young man. II belong to such ant
such church and am a leadirl
member of it,"
"You're just the man I've look
ing for" says the reformer. ="
need some one like you 10 go dow!
into the .slum section Of the cit!
and live with the people there AM
encourage them to save and to BET
ter their condition and inspir,
4 them with higher ideals. YOUR
r..