Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-05-03

[Froni "Hard Times" sermon BY Rev 7. 7. Munger
Of No. Adams, Mass1


[Fron a "Hard Times" sermon by Rev. 7. 7. Munger
Of No. Adams, Mass.l
There is undoubtedly great deal of econ
omy, but not all of it is wise. Economy goes
by a sort of contagion. 1t seizes a communi-
ty and everybody begins to economize be-
cause the times are hard, and the economy
only makes them harder. The salaried man
spends less for food and clothes and shoes,
because his neighbor does. The rich lower
their style Of living and amount of expend-
lures, because it is lowered throughout the
community and because style and free ex-
ponditure do not comport with depressed
social condition. The man who lives on his
interest catches the spirit, and brings into his
house fewer of the staple products of the
working world. This economy is unnecessa-
ry and is adopted only because the times are
hard, and it is the fashion. What l am 60
ing to say may seem a strange doctrine, but 1
will venture it, In hard times it is the duty
of every one to spend all the money he prop
erly can, if he spends it in wise ways. One
cause of the hard times is the StdgndtiOn of
business. Property-of which there is as
much us eYer-is unused. Interchange does
not take place. Products are not bought.
Property is put into foreign loans and ma
tional securities, and the like In such
state of things as now exists, it becomes ev-
cry man who has any resources Whatever in
n clear-headed way to consider how much he
can afford to spend, and then how he can
spend it in such way that it will do himself
and family the most good, and best tend to
relieve the stagnation of business In times
like these, men should spend with special
conscientiousness. 1t is plainly right to spend
chiefly in the direction of the great leading
industries of the country. The strolling min
strels and play-actors may go without our
patronage The whisky interest may be set
aside. And we might reduce our regard for
the tobacco interest to the lowest point con-
sistent with endurance. But the great whole
some industries that lie at the basis of labor
and commerce have q claim upon every mans
resources l doubt the wisdom of great deal
of the economy of the present that prompts
the longer wearing of coats and hats and bon
nets and gowns and shoes that limits the
meat and butter and sugar of the table that
cuts off all the corners of free expenditure be-
cause there is a spirit of saving pervading the
air. OF course when a man has but little he
should spend little, but when he has anything
to spend it is a religious duty to spend it, and
to spend it wisely. To do otherwise in such
times as these, is only to draw closer the
cords that bind us,-to withhold the air when
we are already suffocating.
The subject of economy is one confessedly
hard to manage. 1t is often hard for one to
settle its questions for himself. l sometimes
question if the gospel of thrift according to
Franklin has not been preached too much in
New England and if we do not need some
great wise apostle who shall come preaching
the good word of spending. A spendthrift is
II sad sight but he is no worse than miser.
One hates to see mechanic or laborer spend
ing all his earnings, but l would rather see
such a sight, than one scanting his family and
himself of necessaries, and compressing all
expenditure down to the hard demands of
daily existence-h boarding his broad balances
in miserable ways There is medium course
for the large-hearted wise, and it is to be
sought with dihgent care. Advice is apt to
be misused and hence had better, perhaps, be
withheld. If 1 had an audience exclusively
of people over forty, | would say unhesita-
tingly-Spend If had an audience of only
young people, / would say-sage. Aud I
would beg each not to inform the other of my
words.