The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-25
4 PRIMARY DOCTRINE OF RELIGIox
Tho s,nrulue- OF Possessing Riches.


ital and labor, which has occupied 80 large
share u public attention In modern times lies
a widespread conviction. loudly expressed by
those who are without wealth and secretly en-
| tcrtaincd by many who have it, that the pos
session of riches is n moral, If not political
wrong. In the opinion OF the majority who
over has more Of this worlds goods than his
neEhuOrs is guilty OF a species Of injustice to-
ward them, which, II not voluntarily rcdrcssed
by almsgying and charity. deserves severe
rcprUbation. or men like Aston. or Stewart or
Vanderbilt, II Is very often said that every dol
lar Of their properly has come out Of the peck
cts OF their fellow citizens. and that they ought
TO Re- turn it to its original source by public ben
elections. either in their own lifetime or by will
after their death.
This popular instinct Of the sinfulncss Of
possessing riches IL supported 10y the teachings
of religion. Both Judaism. which was the
parent Of Christianity and Christianity itself. Ms
IT has come down to US through the modifying
influence OF eighteen centuries Of development,
sanction the idea that TO be rich Is prcsump-
lively 10 be wicked. and that riches are peril
Gus. II not fatal. to ones spiritual welfare The
whole policy Of the Mosaic law was directed to
the prevention Of the unequal accumulation Of
wealth. Tho land Of Canaan was parccllod out
among the individual members Of tho conquer
ing tribes, and tho permanent alienation Of
each mans portion was prevented 10y the inst-
tuition Of the jubilee. according to which. at the
cd of every hity years. all conycyances wcro
annulled. and the original posscssor Of any
land which had been sold. or. in case OF his
death. his heirs. entered arain into the enjoy
mcnt of their patrimony. For the same reason
the taking Of interest for loans " money by n
Hebrew from Hebrew was forbidden. and all
personal f.r puI
service were discharged every seventh or
sabbath year. Commerce was DISCOURAGED
by the prohibition Of intercourse and fellow
ship with ncighborng nations. Manufactures
ana mechanical industry lacking the stimulus
which commerce gives. werc 80 little DEVELOPED
that solomon had 10 send to Tyre for artncers
10 build the temple. aud to Egypt and India for
materials 10 adorn II rs well rs for tho articles
81 his own household luxury. Minor regula-
tions secured to tho Hebrew poor the gleanings
OF the corn field and the vineyard. and the pos
session against creditors Of personal clothing
and Of utensils for pref Earring food. The story
OF David and Naboth shows how rich men were
regarded a. being bound to give of their abund-
ancc 10 the destitute while at a later period the
accumulation Of wealth ana the hard-hcartod-
ness OF the rich toward the poor are denounced
by the prophets with unsparing severity. "Wo
unto ihem,' says Isaiah. that join house 10
house. that lay field To- field. till there be- no
place. that they may be- placed alone in the
midst ~ the earth" what mean We that w
beat my PEOPLE 20 pieces and grind the faces Of
the poor,' Ezekiel makes one Of the counts in
his Indictment u the Jewish people. The peo-
pie of the land have used oppression and exor-
cised robbery and vexed the poor and needy"
Amos employs language which, with little va
ration might lpuly to this country ut the pres
eni time: Hear this. yc that swallow up the
needy. oven to make the poor Of the land To fail
saying. When Will the new moon be gone. that
we may sell corn. and the sabbath. that we may
set forth wheat making the ephah small and
the shekel great. and classifying the balances by
Deceit. that we may buy tho poor for silver and
the needy Tor pair Of shoes yea and sell the
refuse OF the wheat. Tho Lord hath sworn by
the eNcellcncy OF jacob: Surely. will never for.
sei any OF their works" And Xachariah enloins
upon his hearers 10 " Execute true judgment
and show mercy and compassion every man to
his brother and oppress not the widow. nor
the iatherless. nor tho stranger nor the poor"
The Psalms also represent the poor us special
objects Of the Divine compassion and the rich
as either foolish or wicked
This spirit Of respect for poverty and II hostil-
ity TO riches found at Il later period OF the jewish
history marked expression in the usaeos and
regulations II the sect f tho Essences. (which
with some reason both John the Baptist and
Jesus Christ arc supposed % hav, been m.m-
hefs. Tho members Of this sect. Josrphus tolls
US. We're i'-pi~srs ~ riches and held all their
property in common. When they travelled they
carried nothing with them. but depended on cas-
un bounty as Jesus commanded his disciples
tu Go when ho sent them rth aS missionaries.
They hal but one -ot Of garments. which they
wore 'nHl'} out before th"y gptucw ones they