Georgetown weekly news., 1854-10-19
Wealth and Money.
BY PROF. GEO. r. PoULToN.

LAY up for yourselves treasure in Heaven
A celebrated man says:-''It is curious
to look back on the fatal and universal pre-
valence of gold worship, recorded in our ra-
ce's history from the period when Midas
became its victim, and the boy chased the
n rainbow to find the pot of treasure buried
at its foot, to the days when the alchymist
offered his all a sacrifice on the altar of
Mammon; until we reach the present time,
when, although the manner of its worship
has changed, the old idOlatry remains an
spirit the same" Another writer says:-
The majority, in every community, hold
the almighty dollar" in almost aaeerdotal
reverence. 1t is nothing less than univer-
sal paSSion-an American leprosy-it is
vile, degrading and loathesome. Money
rules Church and State Money brings
votes and influence, and also Office, and
wives. Money has stepped into the shoes
OF the old monarchy, aristocracy, despot-
ism. Money is the heroic tyrant of Amer
lea. There is no telling what money is not.
1t is everywhere, in everything, above ev-
erybody-a Grand MOgul, terrible Jug
gernaut, a cruel Dominican, MOloch, Satan
himself, all in one, and all at once. Parker
exclaims, "'Noney rs God"
Verify, wealth is notable, and money is a
king among the princes of the earth! Is a
man rich? He is every inch mani Is he
poor? Woe unto himl How dare he show
his diminished head when lucre is domi-
nant over the world Is anything good and
beautiful produced and submitted to the in
spection Of man; what, think ye, is the most
natural enquiry concerning it? Why, this:
'Will it pay?" Ay! how many dollars and
cents will accrue from it? Is it an exquis-
itc production Of art and genius? Its deli
cacy and perfection are looked upon only in
an abstract light-its elegance and useful
ness are Of no account unless it will "pay"
Does one man become acquainted with an
other, what question is usually first asked
concerning each? Not, how bright is his
character, how exalted his benevolence, how
noble his manhood, or how much influence
for the great and good he is exciting in be-
half of his fellow creatures: 0, no! not these
-but-"how much is he worth?" That's
1t! How many dollars will buy him? In
street, or society, business or pleasure, the
usual topic is money, with its workings in
one shape or another. 1t is something in
which all are interested. 1t fosters and
keeps up display, and shows off the innate
vanity OF the human heart; its fctiOns and
dazzling splendor compensates for the lack
Of everything else-and in direct ratio with
the length Of a mans purse is the respect
awarded him. Is a marriage contemplated
or consummated between a son and daueh
ter of man-the affair is commented upon
in accordance with the amount of wealth
involved in it. If plenty, Of course it is a
-'good MATCH if not, it is ''poor" one
Scarcely is a thought adyentured, as to
whether they have the ability and disposi-
tion to make each other happy, or not, or
if cOngeniality of taste or habit is theirs.
No: these are but minor considerations,
and all the small talk is of money! Is
protesting christian stumbling block" to
thousands who witness his doings? No
matter, if he pays" literally to the Church,
and his name heads conspicuously divers
religious and charitable papers, followed by
good fat sum. HIS transgressions are
Wlnked at, has misdemeanors overlooked.
because he IS prominent man." Promi-
nent, really not because of his christian hu-
mility, or general benevolence, but because
the cash box is heavy, or light, as he wills
it to be. Who among us but can testify TO
such facts as these? Who but will be com
PEELED to acknowledge that wealth is the
great moving spirit of the age-gigantic,
powerful, and domineering?
Gold! at seems as if there were some
hidden magic in the treasure, when in the