Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-03-26

New 8emRy ware Deecnef o. MO0eys
Rev Henry Ward Becchcr preached on Sun
day morning on Money and its Uses. Az usual,
| his andicace vas very large, and the attention
throughout profound and earnest He said
thar ours Is the age Of scal;h. The world has
had II. agc war, its age Of art its age Of chiv
airy, and its sge when political economy was the
controlling idea; but ours IL the age of COM
merce. Money is the worlds power to-day
II rules the state and settles political questions
II IL stronger than religiou-stronger than any
principle OF mortality or political economy
stronger than all combined. For money, the
worlds spirit would adopt any government or
any religion.
II the Pope Of Rome could convince the world
that his religion was q money -saaking religion
he could send his golden bulls from pole 10 pole
and there IL not native that would not carry
them. II the Gar OF Russia could convict the
world that czarism was the government most
profitable. czsrism would be the worlds govern
ment, and there is no power on earth that could
prevent II. For money, the worlds spirit would
cruelty Christ in whatsoever form his might APP
pear. There is no such thing as meeting this
desire money in successful conflict. 1t would
be thankless and unsuccessful task to urge
upon the world any principle which 1t believes to
be opposed TO its pecuniary interests; and they
who do thus stana out are few, and their task is
warning with desire for wealth.
The desire to be rich is not evil of ITSELF 1t is
nonsense for man to stand up and disc!am the
desire for wealth, and urge upon the world the
idea that it should be poor Money is neither
an evil nor good of itself; it has not moral
character. II is simply an agent, and whether it
be good or evil, depends upon the manner in
which il is nsed. 1t is like sword. Whether
sword be in the hands of Benedict Arnold,
bat ed in his country's blood, or in the hands of
Washington, welded for justice and liberty, it
is a sword only, and has not character. Nheth-
or it be an instrument for good oreyi depends up
on the character of him who holds the hili, and
not upon the sword itself. So it is with money.
1t is an agent; it ia gigantic motiye-power
that thunders around the world. If the Devil
stands engineer thunders on freigted with untwo
mischief, scattering oppression, and cruelty, and
wrong. But if it is guided by the spirit of love
and truth, it is like the sun, shedding light and
summer upon the world 1t is an angel ofmer-
cy and love, when directed by the spirit
OF Christ.
It's the duty Of the pulpit, then, to direct and
instruct in the use or wealth. and not preach
against il: 1t has grown to be great power
in the church, and it must be preached to. dc
doubted whether, in this city, an equal number
of men as among our church members Mammon
has Joined the church, but he is not converted;
and it is the duty of the pulpit to urge upon the
church the true uses Of wealth. In prima-
tive deys, mems usefulness in the church was
measured by their character and their piety.-
Now, unfortunately, pety has become fashion
able, and we are more accustomed to measure
their usefulness by the amount of their money.
Suppose, said he, that twenty poor but very
pious and good men, were to come here, and
should apply to our examining committee for adj
mission to this church The cohttec would tell
it to our members and they would say, ooh,
well; that is very we'll; we are glad of it." Sup
pose that they were to hear that twenty men,
worth halt million each, had been to all the
congregations in the city, and had concluded to
join this one. "Oh," (said the speaker, putting
his thumbs behind his vest, assuming most
pompous attitude, ooh, we are detightedto hear
t!" We should all examine ourselves to see if
we have not more or less of this spirit. If
minister receives a call from an obscure village,
and Que from great city is he not very likely,
perhaps unconsciously, to think he can do more
good where the large church and salary are loca-
ted.
legitimate use of money is TO adorn and
strengthen the family. The household should
be built deep and broad and strong. He cared
not how costly and beautiful and convenient
man makes his home. The house is typical of
heaven, and of the most exalted relationship be-
tween UOu anu HAIL. Dut IL SuUulu lluccu d
home. 1t should not be nice, costly palace
prostituted to fashion and vanity, where trained
monkeys perform their various tricks, and where
mean seashness and narrow ambition smile from
shallow hearts. 1t should be a sanctuary of love
and not of ideness and folly. 1t should be the
home of the purest and most exalted Affection
place of comfort-a sanctuary of rest, into
which man may withdraw from the cares and
struggles of life. 1t may be lined with gold, and
it's walls hung with the. works of the masters of
art, the more the better, if it be indeed the
abode of pure love and the spirit Of Christ.
The business man who is struggling to get
rich should earnestly weight and scan his pur-
pose. Does he desire to be rich that he may
bless humanity, or is time rely thathe may make
show? These are the questions that God is dali
ly calling upon him to decide in the store and
in the shop. The man already rich should ques
ton himself as to whether he loves Chsst, and
justice and truth, more than he loves his money;
and whether, for the sake of these, he could give
up his library his carpets, and all his little realm,
of wealth and art. .