“BEHOLD, THE HIRE OF THE LABORERS.”
By T.
The attention of the readers of this paper has recently been directed to those remarkable utterances in the fifth chapter of James concerning the “heaping” together of “treasure” in the “last days.” And not only does this scripture tell us that treasure is to be “heaped” up in the last days by “rich men,” but it also tells the method by which it is accomplished. The field of literature is being flooded with books, pamphlets, magazine articles, and newspaper comments and dissertations on the “capital and labor” problem. There have been discussions of this subject at different times and in different countries, but never was it so world-wide as now. Never were the discussions so intense, and never did thoughtful men tremble in the presence of their immediate future as they do to-day. But of all that is being written upon this important subject, there is nothing that begins to equal the terse, clear statements of the brief fifth chapter of James. Altho it was written over 1,800 years ago, yet it states the case more clearly than any modern writer has done. It tells us the exact facts just as they actually exist; for He who inspired these wonderful statements makes no mistakes. He looks at things as they are, and not as they appear to finite men. Our God knows no sin. Hence, He stands infinitely above and apart from any of the sordid and selfish motives that may influence men in either their discussions or acts in this capital-and-labor controversy. And while we invite all to carefully consider this prophecy, it is not from the standpoint of the popular theories of either the capitalist or the laborer that we approach it. Both capitalist and laborer are in great peril. Both are faithfully warned of their danger by the prophetic utterances under consideration. And so in discussing this question we do not argue the merits or demerits of either side of the case as it is being presented from the platform and press to-day. We simply call attention to the statements of the Word of God. And since God has so plainly spoken, we may know the truth and do the right by heeding what He says. To take any other course is to become bewildered in the errors of a self-centered controversy, and finally be lost at the general destruction of the “last days.” The statement is positively made by James that “ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” James 5:3. This part of the prophecy has received attention in previous issues. And while the statement about the “heaping” together of treasure is direct and clear, the apostle, in language that is equally plain and forcible, proceeds at once to say:— “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.” James 5:4. It is useless for men to spend their time in discussing whether or not the laborer is being properly rewarded in these “last days.” There are honorable and notable cases where the employer takes a personal interest in his men, paying them liberally, and treating them as fellow-creatures of the common human family. But the general rule is to pay the laborers as little as possible, and treat them with a corresponding indifference. “But this is a debatable question,” I hear you say. Well, you may debate it if you like. You may discuss it as you will. You may seek to cover up the facts as best you may. But standing over against you all the time is clearly written, not the words of men, and not by the will of man, but the Word of the living God, telling you to “behold, the hire of the laborers,” “kept back by fraud.” Human tribunals may be corrupted or deceived. The verdict of selfish, grasping man, guided by his perverted and blinded personal desires, may lead him to warmly, yes, even hotly, contend that he is giving his laborers their just due. But that Judge before whose court corruption would be consumed by the withering brightness of unalloyed purity and justice; that Judge who views things as they are, and who is infinitely too great to make a mistake, even He who is the Eternal, has spoken. Who will set aside His Word? “Behold, the hire of the laborers,” says the Infinite One, “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 Hosts.” Is this scripture being fulfilled right before our literal eyes to-day? In your very soul you know that it is. You have read of the gaunt destitution in our cities, and you know of the complaints of the country farmer. From every section the cry of distress is heard. In our cities may be found the miserable tenements where men, women, and children of all ages herd together—much more like swine than human beings. From 150 to 200 persons will occupy a single building, stored away in every nook and corner. In warm weather they sleep on the landings, the stair steps, and every place where a bit of room can be found. Several families will rent a large room together, and chalk marks on the floor instead of board partitions serve to outline the boundaries of each. Such abodes are more like the dens of beasts than the dwellings of mankind. Where is the chance for persons to rise above the level of the brutes when they are born and reared under such circumstances? A knowledge of the fact that our cities have block after block of such human dens should cause the hot flush of shame to rise on the cheek of any one who boasts of the civilization of the nineteenth century. Why, even the “cultured” city of Boston, the boasted “center of learning and refinement,” has her full share of these dens, where human beings, for whom Christ died, are forced to live. “But,” you say, “why do they not get out of there? why do they continue to live in such places?” You have not reflected, or you would not ask such a question. Persons born and7reared under such circumstances do not have a knowledge of the outside world that would inspire them with the thought of bettering their condition. And, beside, if they knew ever so much better, what could they do? For these tenement houses are the much-talked-of “sweat shops.” And certainly the name is an appropriate one. The employer “sweats” the last bit of work that he can out of these unfortunate souls, and pays them the least mite that will suffice to perpetuate their existence. As a sample of their wages, they are paid forty-five cents a dozen for making knee pants. They are paid for other work that they do in proportion. Notwithstanding the low wages paid, their landlords exact the highest rents for these miserable tenements. They are not satisfied unless they can make from twenty to thirty per cent. on what they have invested. And so these pitiable fathers and mothers, with their little children, have to rise early and work till ten, eleven, and twelve o’clock at night in order to get enough for the barest existence. Talk about their furniture! They have none. They use such old broken-down tables, together with boxes and old benches, as they may be able to pick up. What is the endearing word “home” to such people?—It is meaningless. What is life to such?—It is nothing but a dreary and a weary confinement between barren walls, where there is not a single ray of cheer or hope. Can a mortal help pitying such persons, filled as they must be with nothing but forlorn despair? Yet in these “last days” there are thousands so cruel that nothing—not even such pitiable and soul-appealing want—can touch them. One man was asked to fix the roof of his tenement, where a lot of these fellow-creatures were herded together. The building was made unhealthful by the dampness, and the inmates were afflicted with rheumatism, hard colds, consumption, etc. The landlord, who was “heaping” his twenty to thirty per cent. on his investment, very coolly said: “I can not fix the roof. Men are cheaper than shingles. As soon as one goes, a dozen more apply for his place.” We can only touch upon this destitution. And perhaps it is unnecessary that more should be said. You can not be ignorant of the fact that there are thousands of these heart-sickening cases of suffering affliction crowded into our cities all over the world. And things are getting worse and worse. Is it any wonder that the Bible says that “the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth”? God, who is infinite in kindness as well as justice, is looking on, and soon must the world be brought to account. The men who can so heartlessly “heap treasure together,” even “sweating” it from the helpless widow and hollow-chested consumptive, are the ones above all others to be pitied. What can be done to help them? But the answer to this question will have to be left till next week. And in the meantime, may a realization of the fact that the evidence that we are in the “last days” is so overwhelmingly great, lead us to careful thought as to our duty. This is no time to be devoting ourselves to the “heaping together of treasure.” Neither should we be quarreling with those who are rich. God will soon destroy every wrong, and our time should be given to a preparation to meet our soon-coming Saviour.