Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-12
THE WORSHIP OF M4MMON,

THE WORSHIP OF MAMMON.
But they that will be rich fall into tempta-
ton, and snare, and into many foolish and
hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruc-
ton and perdition.-I. TIMOTHY VIC.
'The love of money is the root of all
evil" yet how few there are who can resist
the temptation to strive for it at the cost of
all else that IS desirable in life. It is an
evil that pervades every class and grade of
society, from the priest in his robes to the
beggar upon the street corner. Each may
have different idea of the amount of
riches that would make them content, but each
has longing for more than he possesses,
and sacrifices comfort, dignity and often
honor itself that he may attain his ambition.
Money is the god of the American people,
at whose shrine almost every man and wo-
man in the land does reverence. rich man,
be he ever so undeserving, is honored by a
seat in the high places, while the deserving
poor are Ignored and driven into retire
ment. So absorbing has this worship of the
golden calf become, that wealth has bece me
the ruling power of the land. 1t influences
and controls our legislatures and our Con-
gress, our churches, and our courts. It is
the grand mogul of our social gatherings
and of our political conventions, and de-
bases whomsoever it comes in contact with.
1t is the bane of our nation, for it's corrupt
ing power appears to be unlimited.
The pursuit Of wealth under proper re-
strictions is a laudabe one. It ought to be
in an independent position-to accumulate
enough to maintain him in his old age, and
leave those dependent upon him above want.
It is not with this ambition that we find
fault, but with the desire to attain wealth
at the cost of honor and manly dignity.
We object to that passion which in
duces men to betray trust confded
to them that they may profit thereby. We
object to wealth itself when it is used to
corrupt the legislature, the caucus or the
convention. We object to that public spirit
that makes the length of mans purse the
measure of his standing in society or in the
church. We object to that estimation of
riches which enables man possessed of
plenty of this worlds goods to Cypress the
poor and even commit crime without fear
of punishment either at the bar of court
of justice or of public opinion. We object
to that public sentiment which calls the man
or himself from starvation a thief, and he
who steals a million smart man. We OBJ
ject to the church that aspires to be known
as rich rather than godly; that overlooks the
faults and condones the vices of a man
possessed of his tens of thousands, and vet
Furnishes with the utmost rigor the indiscre-
tions of the poor.
To the church we are accustomed to look
for good example too often we see the
most grievous faults, but in nothing are they
more gr1evous than in the subserviency with
which the rich are treated by the pastor and
people alike. Although the master assured
us that it is easier for camel to pass through
the eye of needle than for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of heaven, we daily see
his ministers debasing themselves almost
groveling in the dust at the feet of men of
wealth and influence, and all that the pit
tances that they contribute from their boards
may not be cut off from the church revenues.
Tosay that this conduct is inconsistent is
not enough it is simply disgraceful-
pulslve to true Christianity and degrading to
the dignity of the church. While we
would not debar the church from
receiving and appropriating to it's
use contributions from any source-for
money is necessary to its progress and full
usefulness-we do object to it's procurement
by means that are both sycophantic and I'M
christian.
Not only in the church do we need a re-
form in this particular. Although we boast
our democracy and sheer at the flunkeyism
of foreigners towards men of noble blood,
we, are yet far more subservient to our own
aristocracy of wealth. We lack the indie
pendence of true democracy, and are as in
Veterate worshipers as are any people
in the old world, save that our hero is
the almighty dollar while theirs is nobil-
ity of family descent. We must learn to
value wealth less to love it only for the
creature comforts it bestows and the oppor-
tunity it gives for doing good. The churches
must aspire to be godly rather than to have
the most, elegant temple of worship and the
most fashionable minister and choir. Peo-
pie must learn to treat those who accumulate
riches by dishonorable means with the con-
Tempt they deserve, and not
Crock the pregnant hinges of the knee
Where thrift may follow fawning."