Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-01-22
From the New York Day Book.
The DcmOraIized influences of Debt

1t is one of the strangest and most
inexplicable ideas of this age, demor-
allied IA the age is, that Christian
churches do not see and realize the
morally destructive influences OF
debt. If there We're needed u single
healthy axiom to be added to the
Ten Commandments, it should be,
"pay as you 60" Debt unGermincs
the principles of individuals and ma
tions. Any man, or any community
that recklessly makes use of the credit
he or it may possess, gives evidence
of moral intempcrapcc which, in
nine cases out of ten, Is less than
moral turpitude. We hold that a
disposition to rush into debt, because
one has the ability so to do, is an evil
dence Of lack of moral principle
No man has q right to incur an obi
cation, unless he can see, or thinks he
sees, the certainty of possessing the
means of discharging it. The fact
that he IL able to give security for the
performance of the promise to pay,
does not detract from the serious res
possibility he assumes. 1t is too well
known that very large percentage
given lcSullS III tlit iliiul lOSS Ol tflc
mortgage of his entire security
pledged; and it follows that he and
his are reduced to penury and want,
and this change is not at all calculated
to improve the moral tone or elevate
the moral sentiments of the sufferers.
Taking practical view,of the expert
ment, and with past history for au-
thority, we do not hesitate to say
that debt, whether of the individual
of the nation, is n curse to u greater
or less extent, and of all monstrous
Inconsistencies church debt is the
most startling. Debt is rust which
corrupts everything on earth Ii
touches, and that il should have been
allowed to fasten upon the Protestant
churches mot ON the Catholic, we arc
happy to say, is only to be account
ed for by the supposition that the
Protestant churccs have, rs n body,
fallen from the high estate they en-
joyed half II century ago. We fear,
and with reason, they have become 50
demOralized that they not only dc
not realize the sinful fruits ofa church
debt, but that they are so obtuse upon
the subject of Christian morals gen
:
and the advocacy of war and blood
shed, which has been to such degree
popular pulpit topics, they hold to be
n part of the creed of the Great Teach
or who preached to mankind from
the text blessed are the peace
makers, for they shall be called the
children of God"
We are led into the above COM
ments by the notice that the pastor OF
the Church of the Messiah, of this
city, the wcll-llnown DR.. Osgood, has
been obliged to resign ON account OF
the unhealthy and demoralized con
dition of that church, which has q
heavy debt of 100000 hanging over
1t. This edifice cost the sum of $3.50, 600,
n sum far greater than the means OF
the congregation could afford, and the
fruits of the departure from the NOR
al code which says "pay rs you go"
have been troubles and disscntions,
and thc,tield which, ON the "pay as
you go" system, would have grown
wheat, seems so have n very large
crop of tares.
We are out of our province when
we NEEDLE with sectarian matters,
and never make use ofour columns for
such purposes. This is not n sectarian
topic, We allude 10 the disposition,
ON the part of churches, to get into
debt, rs bringing poisonous fruits rs
surely rs the same disposition, on the
part of individuals, ever does; and we
point to well-known personal and
church embarrassment and moral
rocklesSncss, growing out of such
evils as debt, 10 show the country the
inevitable results of the huge three
thousand million obligation now
chatting, and fretting, and demoralil-
ing the great body polite OF the