Show CLASS distinctions NOT a few thoughtful though tf ua people are more or less exercised over the existence and increase of a certain class of social distinctions ions among members of the church Jb there always will be certain divisions in the ranks of society more or less distinct they are formed involuntarily by a variety of causes in verification of the old truism that birds of aleather will flock together when the causes that lead to the massing of classes are improper so are the results when the least degree of the genius of ostracism Is infused used the condition genius aitio JI must necessarily be detrimental to the welfare of the community as it Is a bar to general consolidation all distinctions in society speaking from a gospel standpoint should be of a nature not to interfere with the unification of the whole when anyone any one class of the community nit turns tarns up its nose at ap any v other pore portion ion of the tb social body with an expression of 1 I am better than thou the attitude is simply abominable this means that that particular class assumes to belong to the best society that such an assumption is made madey ay some people professing to be saints is beyond controversy the claim has been made more or less broadly by actions which speak with an uncertain sound and in a few in stances some people have set it up in words there need be no hesitation in declaring that no such position can be taken upon a gospel standpoint lt it must be defined according to the ideas of the world at large the standard from the latter quarter is defined without difficulty the central and all important qualification needed to entitle a person to belong to the best society is money the manner in which he may have bome come into possession of the article cuts a comparatively small figure so long as he has it he may have obtained it dishonestly or otherwise and may be by causing widespread misery among his fellows his morality is not a matter of much moment either wealth covers any defect in that regard almost as easily as it is to write the word libertine on a slip of et paper and cover it with a 20 gold piece so it la completely out of sight wealth occupies the same relative position in society as charity does in religion it covers a multitude of sins it serves as a fair substitute sti tute in the same connection tor for brains according to the best society standard it would not be the correct thing for a person moving in it to have broad sympathies because they would cause him to take an interest in people who are poor he would mingle with those outside of the pale of his class and that would be exceedingly vulgar he should move only in his own limited circle people who bovein move in upper ten circles generally expect to receive the adulation of other people because of their social standing that is because of their money to expect it on that basis is consistent because no person who has any inherent qualities worth admiring would anticipate obtaining conspicuous distinction in such a way the society man has to go outside of his interior personal qualities to find something he be deems beems worthy of attracting adoration both the receiver and giver of worship from such a cause are in a gift ble not to say contemptible position we the gospel social standard is the antipodes ot of the one lust just deac described christ is its type he had no fine mani sion nowhere to lay jay his bis head he had that however which the accumulated riches of ages cannot purchase the wealth of the soul his mind was adorned with the glittering gems of truth which never fade he had bad the priceless jewel of unlimited love his bis s sympathies mpa 1 thies being broad as eternity 21 he had that sentiment which finds a lodging every i in great noble and magnanimous mind ineffable contempt for sham hypon hypocrisy andl and deceit he believed believe in class distinctions however but his bis theory and practice always harmonious were based on the wealth that adorns the intellect the heart and conscience all men belonged in his bis estima teto the best so society clety who adhered to the extent of their power to the eternal principles of righteous righteousness ess 1 upon which the throne of jehovah is established it had bad no relation to the amount of earthly goods they possessed those who create claim or maintain class distinctions in the community of saints on the basis of worldly wealth are not in unison with christ nor the spirit of his gospel they are taking a course that has hag been condemned in the covenants and commandments of the church the saints have been warned by the lord in the following words 11 beware of pride lest ye become like unto my people the Nep hites of old to foster the ordinary best society idea in the community is to drift away from the genius ot the truth which is easily choked and finally obliterated by the pride ot of the world it is especially pitiful to see young men putting up a claim of belo belonging to the best society on the cas cash basis as it argues for them a fruitless future because of a meagre conception of the relative value of money when compared with the wealth of the intellect the conscience and the heart such a disposition is diametric diametrically alIv opposed to the spirit irit of brotherhood which belongs to ae the church of christ and is not in unison with the genius of ordinary philanthropy it is not cherished by a magnanimous mind |