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Themes Atonement THE GUILTY GIVER His ancestors had come to this country as Pilgrims. He was born in 1832. He was educated at good schools and eventually graduated from Harvard University. He appeared to be a successful man. He was admired by everyone. In 1866, he moved to New York City and quickly became involved with homeless boys. He assisted in a shelter for the street boys of New York. He even became involved in the "Fresh Air Fund" which took boys from the city out into the country for two weeks each summer. As he became more involved in helping boys, he began writing books. His books were stories of boys who went from rags to riches, from poverty to wealth, by being honest and working hard. He condemned crime and tried to make young boys do their very best. His books were a success and he became quite famous. The money was pouring in. But rather than keep the money for himself, he gave most of his money away to the poor, especially to the boys and young men whom he was trying to help. It seemed everything he did was for other people and was an act of kindness. In one of his writings, however, there is a clue to what was behind Horatio Alger's generosity. In a poem, he tells about a man named Anselmo. Anselmo has committed a great sin and wants to die. He tells him to take courage because God will give him a chance to wash his sins away by noble service to his fellow man. What Alger was telling Anselmo, was what Alger had been telling himself since 1864. It was then, back in Brewster, Massachusetts that Horatio Alger, a respected member of the community, was discovered to be guilty of a terrible crime. He fled from the town and came to New York. He turned over a new leaf and worked tirelessly, hoping that his good deeds would atone for his sin. He told others to be good and virtuous. But was it enough? Men may have forgiven Alger for his sin, but the important thing is that only God can forgive sin. From his writings, there is the hint that Alger felt sorry about his sin all his life. His conscience was never at peace. He thought that a life time of sorrow and good deeds might atone for what he had done. The lesson about the Day of Atonement shows us that God was teaching men that they cannot do anything to atone for their sins. Only the blood of the goat and the bearing of sin by the scapegoat could atone for their sins. God hates sin. But since men cannot do anything to put away their own sin, God sent His Son to die for sins upon the cross. Instead of trying to pay for your sins, why not accept what Christ has done? When He died on the cross, "His own self, bare our sins in His own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24).
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Jim Batterton
