Higher Privileges

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 2, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 14.

Higher Privileges.

Telegraph despatches of the 23rd ultimo tell us that a social triumvirate of women who can trace their blue blood back several generations, have proposed to sit down hard on all future aspirants who may come knocking at the gate of the palaces of the charmed “Four Hundred,” presenting only a card of gold to the groomed and liveried porter. In other words, there must be “blue blood” as well as gold. And yet it was only a little while ago, just the remove of a few generations, since the ancestors of these society queens had their roots in the common soil, and mingled with the common herd, and they were none the worse nor the better either, perhaps, for that. Neither poverty nor wealth makes men or women, but character. One of these triumvirate of dictators at one time entertained King Edward at dinner; the two others have each entertained Prince Henry of Germany. Now new wealthy ones who have dug their millions from the snows of Alaska, or the more genial regions of the Western States, must wait for a generation or so—unless they wish to go to Europe and spend money lavishly. There the golden key will unlock the fastnesses of “nobility” from knight and baron up through count, and earl, and prince to the throne itself, and then the “four-hundred” dictators will receive the victor with open arms.

O the folly of it all. The old republican days are going, and the greatest republic of earth, in some of its phases is becoming less republican than the greatest kingdom of earth. To the true Christian all this is nothing. What cares the man who knows God whether the “Four Hundred” or even royalty recognize him, only that it opens the way still farther for him to witness for Christ, and the soul of the king is as dear to the heart of God as is the soul of the king’s subject? What cares the true Christian if royalty or the “Four Hundred,” some of whom were once his playmates, pass him by? He holds daily converse with the King of Heaven; the great Prince of Life, whose dominion and crown shall never pass to another, is his Companion and Friend. There are secrets between him and Them that no one else knows. The seal of friendship and helpfulness, stamped by the King’s name, is his. He may not reckon his ancestors from some bold brigand chief or robber baron; he may, like Burns (and everybody else for the matter of that), be honestly able to say, that according to the flesh,—

“My ancient and ignoble blood Has crept through scoundrels ever since the flood;”

but he congratulates not himself over the one nor mourns over the other; for he is come into a new relation, a son of the King of Heaven; a blood relation of Jesus his Lord. Then whatever society does or may do, let the Christians, one and all, rejoice that they are “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” And even such we wish all the “Four Hundred” were.