FEEDING THE POOR by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 1, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 35.

FEEDING THE POOR.

By T.

A RECENT New York World has a description of Sir Thomas Lipton’s “cheap-meal scheme” for feeding the poor of London. His plan is to have restaurants where they can get a good meal for four cents, and something a little extra good (for poor folks) for eight cents. Mr. Lipton said to the reporter who interviewed him:—

“There will also be a labor bureau. One headquarters will be able to supply food for 10,000 persons a day. The hours between breakfast and the midday meal will be set aside for feeding poor children.

“Other branch establishments all over London will serve 2,000 people a day.

“Not the least important part of the scheme is what I may call the outside department, whereby poor people will be given facilities to take food to their homes and invalids will be supplied with beef tea.

“Three meals will be supplied daily, including Sundays. At the headquarters there will be a band of music occasionally.

“If the scheme works as I expect it will, I have promised another $500,000.”

Anything that looks toward the work of feeding the hungry and clothing the naked must be a commendable work. It is hard to see how it could be otherwise. And Mr. Lipton’s hope is that his plan may be copied by other nations. Let the good work spread, and it is to be hoped that more than one sum of $500,000 will be given to feed and clothe the destitute.

But it should be seen that this rapidly-increasing army of the dependent and destitute, not in one nation alone, but in every nation on the whole earth, is presenting one of the greatest problems of this time. And yet when the question is viewed from the correct standpoint there is really no problem in it. It is simply and clearly an indication of the times in which we are living. It is one of the unmistakable signs that we are in the days when the prophecy of James is fulfilling right before our literal eyes. His prophecy reads as follows:—

“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth; and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

It is to be observed that the apostle speaks of the “treasure” that is “heaped together for the last days.” He also speaks of the “hire of the laborers” which is “kept back by fraud.” And so flagrant is the evil that the laborers’ hire that has been fraudulently kept back, “crieth.” And at the same time that the cries of the poverty-stricken and oppressed are forced from their lips, the Word of God lays the charge against the rich, “Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.”

In view of this condition of things in these “last days” the Lord sends the ringing message, “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.” James 5:1. This immense army of despairing, destitute men, women, and children, will rise in a furious revolution by and by. And the rich men who have had no scruples in their oppressive methods in “heaping together their treasure,” will reap the awful harvest from the seed that they have sown.

This scripture that we have quoted from James is a positive, divine evidence of it. Its graphic description of these scenes among the rich in the last days should thrill every soul. Surely their position is a most unenviable one if they persist in their wanton living, and continue to heap up treasure.

It is good that some still have the sparks of generosity that will lead them to provide cheap as well as free living for the host of the destitute. But how much better it would be to give them their just pay and help them to be manly and womanly enough to work for their own independent living, rather than to be beggarly paupers! The man is far better when he makes his own living than when he is dependent on the charities of others. And while cheap restaurants and free soup houses are good in their way, it is far better to lead men into some useful occupation where they enjoy the blessing of making their own way.

For instance, there are several men, and among them a titled gentleman or two of England, who each owns all the way from 50,000 to 1,750,000 acres of land in this country. Now it is perfectly evident that no man can use any such quantity of real estate. The baron who holds the 1,750,000 might lead 47,750 families into homes where each could possess 40 acres of land. And any family can make a good living on 40 acres. If the people were led away from the cities and set to work at farming, they could live comfortably, and the destitution and discontent would vanish of themselves.

But can we hope for any reforms?—Indeed, there is such a strong tide running in the direction of concentration and oppression, that there is but little to hope for. And yet let us hope and pray and work for that little. Let us hope and pray and work to the end that some eyes may be opened to the true meaning of this terrible situation. Some of these rich men will surely be reached, and turn their great abilities in the direction of helping the poor to help themselves, and leave off their oppressions. Some of the poor will also be reached, and so be saved from the fearful revolution into which they are driving. And the message to all is:—

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”