Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-10-27


and his servants should possess them. But
they are not TO attain them wrongfully. It
is needed now that Christian men shall carry
their principles, rs Christian mon, into
trade and professional life. When the world
shall see a Christianity which will not sane
tiOn usury, which will hold no fellowship
with meanness, which disdains 10 environ
itself with cut throat mortgages, and acts
upon the Golden rule, it will receive a new
view Of its grandeur, new evidence Of its
truthfulness more commanding than scores
of Analogues, though written by the superb
ors Of Butler
Young men, enthrone Christianity in your
business, its tutelary grooves, its ruling geni-
US. When you do that, you will have spol-
en- the most eloquent sermon in It's behalf
VIII you do il? Give the business man the
vantage ground Of an unblemished reputa-
ton, his next character is 10 be that Of the
Christian beneiactor. He has obtained means,
how shall he use them?
Now let a lawyer whose religion has kept
him pure amid the excitements of the bar;
the physician who has maintained his inte-
gritty, the merchent who has been busy du-
ring all the week, who has shared the trials
and vexations of commercial life, but amid
all has kept up an acquaintance with his
Lord-the mechanic who amid labor abund-
ant has "endured as serving Him who is in
visible'!-let such come forth in the confer
enee room, the class room and prayer circle,
and witness the gospel Of the minister-let
| them engage in the mission school, let them
| be distributors ofreligiOus literature, let them
"stand up for Jesus" beside yon street
preacher or temperance lecturer, and enforce
his teachings, and none can tell the resultant
| forces. These are men of facts and figures
they are schooled in the worlds hard
school, they are shrewd and far-seeing. They
have no worldly interests to promote-sure-
/ ly theirs must be the religion of fact, and
| they aver 1t to be that Sf hallowed feeling.
/ Besides, business life gives rare mental
| discipline which peculiarly qualities for ef-
/ fective labor. Business men have been trans
ferred to Senatorial and diplomatic life, and
have succeeded, as have few trained to these
pursuits. The same is true of the ministry.
| Many eminent preachers had their training
| in business. With this training, it may be-
come duty for some to enter the pulpit, but
there may be eminent piety and usefulness
without.
Business is not adverse to piety. Christ
ianity is not that eifeminate thing which de-
mands a cloister for its development and
perfection. No. Each lawful application
may and should become a means Of grace
The Christian sailor may explore the most
.
with Livingston and Barth, pass all others
threading his way beside "rivers unknown
to song;" Christian merchants may preside
on Change; Christian lawyers may stand
first at the bar; Christian physicians should
| be the most eminent of their noble profess
sion, and the Christian artiEan may excel in
his vocation. There is that in our religion
which demands an effort after excellence in
all our lawful works, and it teaches us to re-
fuse all others.
No. He ISLANDERS Christianity who repre-
sents it as winning its nOblest laurels in the
cloister or the cell. 1t is for business men,
and for business and busy age. There is
nothing more favorable to personal piety in
the calling of the clergyman than Of the
merchant or artizan. Each vocation, seeu-
lar or sacred, has its own trials and its own
victories.
In conclusion, will but detain you with
an apology for the character of the remarks
have made tonight, which may appear
hardly beftting this glad reunion. We
have recently seen a company of our youth
win from each great city of our East and
Centre the enthusiastic applause of military
men and the wild applause of the Masses
What is the secret of their success ? Simply
drill. Night after night they have devoted
TO military and athletic exercise until their
LdAO pCAACCSAO4A 44eLS BGsu reached. OuElSLlHQ
young men o. tins qSs9sistQRs YES Sg ueh
may be doubted. But it exhibits the infu-
ence OF discipline. Well, l believe ere the
trumpet Of our King shall come, the rules
and practices Of trade must be revolutiouized
The mean man must be stunned as thief.
the over-reaching man as a pick-Iock; the
avariclous man must be smoked out from
under the Christian altar. Over each busi-
ness doorway must be inscribed, " Whatso-
ever things are lovely, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are Of good re-
port" The Golden Rule must become the
rule Of trade-the crew of the vessel haiIing
from Christian port must cease to be a mis-
slonaries most dreaded enemies. How shall
this be? l answer-the Christian young
men Of the land must be disciplined to feel
the importance, the religious Importance, Of
business life, to estimate the rectitude de-
manded in the acquisition and the benef
cence in the distribution Of gain, and to de-
vote these powers, trained, as no other school
can tram themy to the cause Of God and Hu-
manity.