Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-09-07
Sense i'm Business,

Henry Ward Beecher says: lnere
are many difficulties and objections in
respect TO lie insurance resting upon
the minds of good men, and the fol
lowing questions have been put to us
and to others on this subject.
L. EIas man right to make the
continuance of his life the basis of
bargains2 Is it not turning very
solemn thing into mere commercial
transaction
Life insurance is nothing but a
mode of laying up money for ones
family or for dependents. Every
prudent man that can doit, provides
while he is strong, for the time when
he shall be weak. and seeks, for the
same reason, willie he is with his
family, to make provision for their
wants when he shall be removed. In
one sense, every prudent man ma l<es
his own decease the basis of com
mercial action. He ought TO do it.
Every .,eason which makes ita man $
duty to provide for his family while
living, acts with yet greater force to
secure for them a comfortable subsis-
tence after he shall have been remov-
ed from them.
2. But ere we not forbidden to
"take thought for the morrow p
Not in the sense now attached to
the "taking thought" The thing
forbidden is undue anxiety about
temporal matters. We are forbidden
to fret and worry about our future
support. One way to avoid that sin,
is to secure the future by a wise
providing. Who is most likely to
worry about the fate of his wife and
children man who has money laid
up for them, or one who has not a
cent to pay his own funeral expen-
ses9
3. But has man the right to take
the future cut of Gods hands ? Ought
we not to trust in Providence?
A man that does all that he knows
how to do, and nobody else, has a
right to trust in Providence. God
gave us reason that it might be used.
God is honored by those who use his
gifts, and not by lazy o, Supid fol lks,
who think that doing nothing is
trusting Providence
Trust in the Lord, and do good SO
shalt thou dwell in the land, and
verify thou shalt be fed"
We hare no right to trust God for
an2tling ayhich he has enabled as to
obtrna 5y our own skill and industry.
Providence will not pay a premium
on Incidence.
4. Granting that there are no NOR
al objections to life insurance, are
there not better ways for laying up
for ones family? Is it not better TO
invest in real estate, or put money IN
the bank?
There is no doubt that in either Of
these methods a family may be pro
vited for. But it must be remember
ed that You take upon yourself all
the risks in such a case. Your at
fairs may become involved, and your
property taken for debt. Your stocks
and shares may fall in value. But
policy upon your life cannot be
taken ior debt cannot be alienated
from your heirs; and, if you have
chosen your company discreetly, is
subject 10 no commercial risk. Ii
is as nearly sure as anything earthly
can be.
). There is an objection founded
upon the risk Of losing ones policy
if one neglects the payment of the
annual premium.
This difficulty is obviated in all
good insurance companies, BY an ar
raneement or commutaion. If one
can no longer pay lis-rremium, he
can sell lis po.icy to the company
for a given sum, which is de ermlned
not BY the caprice Of directors, btr
upof regular scale; or, Re can
commute ie- ,rcpoGtlouatc part o
his origin&! policy, winch shall D.
paid TO his ne..s, VltIoW lurtAer III
nual payments on MS prt. 0nD
does not lose what he has paid IN.
4 large proportion returns to INN.
That winch Is retained Is equitably
retained for expenses and for the risk
Of his life undertwhlch the COMPANY
had lain.