Year: 1879

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POVERTY AND RICHES.


Better is the poor that walketh in his up
rightness, than he that ia perverse in his ways,
though he be rich.-PRovERBs xxvH1:6.


The business of money getting has be-
come so absorbing of late years that but lit
tie time is left for other pursuits. Almost
every man one meets is engaged in wild
scramble for wealth. 1t is literally as we'll
as nominally the god that the American peo-
pie worship The more one acquires the
more he Graves. Men are not satisfied with
a competency that will preserve them and
their families from want, but seek the accu-
mutation of colossal fortunes. They have
little time to devote to mental culture or So
cial intercourse, and frequently neglect their
wives and children that they may have more
time to spend in their places of business.
As for religion, that is something few of
them have time to attend to. They usually
content themselves with hiring pew in
some fashionable church which their wives
frequently occupy, but they but seldom. When
they find time to attend house of worship
they do it under protest or for the purpose of
maintaining advantageous business acquaint-
ances. Money is their sole end and aim in
life. Without it they consider others as
nothing; without it they would consider their
own lives misspent.


There is but one legitimate result of this
grasping, greedy strife. 1t is to make of
men nothing but machines. It dwarfs all
the noblest impulses of humanity, leads men
to selfshness and uncharity, degrades the
intellectual portion of nature, and drives re-
igion and tenderness from the breast. We
have but to ask the reader to think over the
characteristics of the rich of their acquaint-
ance to obtain full confirmation of this
fact. For the most part they are
mean and uncharitable. Those in distress
never think of applying to them for aid,
even though they may stand high on the
rolls of church. When they bestow char
ity they do it in an ostentatious manner
that they may be seen of men. OF course
there are many notable exceptions-men
who use the wealth with which fortune has
endowed them to do good to their fellow
men who bestow aims with lavish hand
where it will do the most good. But these
exceptions are only too rare.


The church of Christ processes to believe
and act upon the belief expressed in the text,
but does it do so? Note, if you please, when
you 60 to the sanctuary this morning
how differently the rich and the
poor are received. The obsequiousness of
the usher toward the richly clad,
prosperous merchant or banker is noticeable.
The poor man in the next pew glows with
conscious pride if he receives naughty
recognition from the nabob; the minister
and the deacons are profuse in their inqui-
ries as to the health of the distinguished
gentleman, and all present, old and young,
vie with each other in doing him homage.
This is gratifying to his pride, no doubt, and
he may reward it by an extra donation to the
church funds. What, however, is the recep-
tion of the poor man? Is he ushered to his
seat with an obsequious bow, and loaded
with complimentary attentions Do any of
the members seek recognition from him
His life may be upright, his intellectual de-
velopment of high order, and every quality
of mind and heart in every respect admira-
BILE. The fact that he is poor, however,
ostracises him from the society of the
church. There can be no greater blot upon
no chor 0f kho,,
that he is poor. Though, in the language of
cant, poverty is no crime, it has come to
pass that it might as we'll be. All the Chris
tian graces cannot compensate for the lack
of means with which to purchase fnery, fast
horses and respect.


Religious circles are not, perhaps, infected
with the worship of wealth more than
any other circles, but it is more conspicuous
there than elsewhere, and therefore more
reprehensible. In the ordinary walks of life
the rich and the poor commingle on more
democratic footing than in the semi-social
community that constitutes the church, and
the differences in caste are not SO pro-
nounced. In societies which profess to re-
SoAN fALOo do VI uOTo 6CCOUuI CQau SlmDl0
worldly position it is decidedly reprehensible
to show such an inordinate fondness for the
wealthy above the poor. 1t is an indication
that there Is something lacking-that the
true spirit of Christianity does not permeate
the churches as it should. A change is
needed, and when made will rebound to the
interests of religion in every part of the
world.


OSTRAC1SM 1T THE WATERING.


PLACES


A senseless and in every way reprehensible
crusade is going on at some of the Eastern
watering places, having for it's purpose the
exclusion of the Hebrews from the pleasures
of spa and shore. The Manhattan Beach
company, which has recently fitted up re-
sort for pleasure seekers, on Coney Island,
io "a