The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-04-06
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
MAMMON; OR COvETOUSNEsS THE
SIN OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH"

About thirty five years ago, a little book o1
some $50 pages, with the above rather start
ling title made its appearance in London
1t was "Prize Essay" by Rev. John Har.
ris, to which was awarded the handsome
prize of hundred guineas, offered by T.
Conquest, Esq, for the best essay upon the
",Sm of Couetousness. The publisher S
notice to the second American edition was as
follows: "The rapid sale of the first edi-
ton of this work made it necessary to put to
press second soon after its publication. 1t
has been very extensively reviewed both in
this country and in Europe; and the pub
fishers feel justified in saying that few reli-
gious works that have appeared of late years
have produced more sensible effect on the
religious community, or have received more
universal encomiums. Certainly no work
could be devised or more faithfully executed
to counteract the prevailing sin Of the times.
AS an evidence of the popularity of the
work in England, it is sufficient to give the
testimony of a highly respectable clergyman
of London, who states in communication
lately received-'we have exhausted the
tenth edition. Ten thousand copies have
been sold-this is sale which no writer has
commanded since Sir Walter Scott-certain-
ly no religious writer"
We'll does the writer remember the sensa-
ton and interest created about the year
1887, by the circulation of "Mammon" in
this region of country. Besides several edi.
tions from private publishing houses, the
American Tract Society published large
edition, thus swelling the popular current,
and the book had surprising circulation.
Every body read it-every body praized it.
Did l say euery bodye No! there were
some 'shard-shell'' Christians of that day in
all our churches whom even this powerful
appeal failed to arouse from their slumbers.
Although, in the expressive language of a
reviewer of that period, "the author with
one vigorous effort has lifted on his shoulders
the pillars of the temple of Mammon, and
let the light of Divine Truth in upon the
worshippers there" Yet there were some
who still hugged their gold, or used it only
at the "table of the money changers. 1t
was partly with view to reach these hard
cases, that an excellent ruling elder of our
church purchased one hundred copies, at a
cost of $50, and distributed them over the
country. I never heard of but one man
taking offence at its being presented to him,
and | believe he lived to be ashamed of it.
In many other cases, it was known to have
done good.
My attention has recently been called to
this admirable little book by seeing in the
columns of the Religious Herald an inquiry
on the part of a correspondent, to whom the
answer was given that "the work was out Of
print that even the Tract Society's edi-
tion was exhausted, and not copy could be
found for sale at any of the bookstores
Can this be true? If so, cannot something
be done by our Committee of Publication, or
by some other publishing house to bring it
again before the Christian public?
1t may be interesting to some of your
readers to know something of the general
design and scope of this "Prize Essay,
which cannot be better done than by giving
the "Table of Contents as find them in
the copy now before me.
PART FIRST.
Selfshness the antagonist Of the Gospel.
Sec. 1. The Universe designed to display
and enjoy the love of God.
Sec. g Sin, as Selfshness, is the frustra.
ton of the Divine plan.
Sec. 3. All sin is Selfshness.
Sec. 4. The Gospel, as system of Be
nevolence, opposed to Selishness.
Sec. 5. Selfshness, the sin of the world
has become the sin of the Christian Church
Sec. 6. The forms of Selfshness in the
Church.
PART SECOND.
C0vetOusness the principal form of Selfish
ness"
| Sec. /. The nature Of Covetousness.
Sec. 2. Forms of Covetousness.
Sec. 3. The present predominance Of
Covetousness.
Sec. 4. The disguises of Covetousness.
Sec. 5. Tests of Covetousness.
Sec. 6. The guilt and evils of Covetous
ness.
Sec. 7. The doom of CovetousneSs.
| Sec. 8. Excuses of Covetousness for its
want of liberaGty.
PART THIRD.
Christian Liberality explained and enforced
Sec. l. Christian Liberality explained.
Sec. 2. Christian Liberality enforced.
Althoug gh there is much in every page Of
the book to interest and instruct the devout
Christian, and although the reader is borne
along by the fervid and glowing style from
the beginning to the end, yet the concluding
page ION Christian Liberality enforced,) is
especially worthy of note; and think that
many of your readers will thank me fol
transferringit to the columns of the Gen.
trail Presbyterian.
"Oh then, by the mercies of God; by
the riches of His goodness towards you ii
nature, providence and grace; by the sa
| a.odnasS nf the commands He has laid unor