"TO THE POOR THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED."
By M. C. W.
So said Jesus to the disciples of John, when they came to inquire if he were the Coming One. For proof, our Saviour refers them to some of the results of his ministry as foretold by the prophets, among which was the preaching of the gospel to the poor. "God is no respecter of persons," is stated again and again in the sacred word. "The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all." Prov. 22:2. God will maintain their right (Ps. 140:12); and he takes knowledge of those who oppress them. Isa. 3:14, 15; Jas. 2:2-6. In our Saviour's day, poverty had become a social crime among the Pharisees; and because Jesus mingled with the poor and other neglected classes, he was called "a friend of publicans and sinners;" and truly he was, even the Friend. Prophecy indicates that the poor will be despised in the last days. James 5:1-7, and other passages. And it seems as if the reality would surpass all prediction. A few years ago, Mrs. Edwards wrote of the church,— "She had cushioned pews for the rich and great
To sit in their pomp and pride;
While the poor folks, clad in their shabby suits,
Sat meekly down outside."
Not long since, an Examiner reporter found on actual trial, that a poor man was anything but welcome in most of the fashionable and popular churches of San Francisco. But the latest and worst of all is the church of St. Thomas (Protestant Episcopal), New York, as reported in the Daily Examiner of February 15, taken from the New York Sun. Said Benjamin Williams, chief lay manager of the affairs of St. Thomas:— "We haven't any room in our church for people who haven't paid for their seats. Our trouble is not to find places for a stranger, but to keep them out. We don't ask them to come, and we don't want them. If they come they are in the way, and we have hard work to get them out of the way; but manage to do it, nevertheless. We have to watch them, but sometimes they elude us and contrive to find seats somewhere. Then we have to tell them very plainly to get up and go out—and we make them do it." When asked upon what theory the managers acted, Williams replied:— "It isn't any theory, it's plain business. Do you suppose you could go into a theater and take any seat you pleased? No, of course not; and the same rule is followed at St. Thomas' Church. You can go to the Casino and pay fifty cents for an admission fee and stand up in the lobby, but you can't have a seat; well, we don't charge any admission fee, and after you are in we treat you the same as if you were at the theater. If you have a seat coupon at the Casino, you get a seat. If you have a right to a seat at St. Thomas' Church you can get your seat, if you haven't why then you don't." "I don't consider the question of Christianity. It's none of my business whether the people that have seats are Christians or pagans. As for the theology of the question, I don't have time to think of that. The minister is hired to look after such matters." And much more was said after the same sort. "There isn't any of that sentiment here" that the rich and poor may worship together, said Mr. Williams. And is this Christianity? God pity those who can think so. God pity the ministers who solace such into the belief that it is Christianity. It is Mammon worship.