Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-18
FsITHFOE STEW.4RDSHIP.

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your trust the true riches. Luke 16, XI.
In ancient times the Office of steward
was the highest position under the
crown and like royalty descended from
father to son; and in the default of
heirs to the throne, the crown passed to
the steward, as in the case of the Stuarts
of Scotland, who thus made the title Of
their Office the name of their royal house.
In more modern times the duties of a
steward have been to manage the affairs
of family or estate, to superlntend ser
wants and collect rents and discharge
debts; and in all times the responsible
ties of the position have required that a
man be loyal to the interests of his en-
ployer and honorable in the discharge Of
his duties.
In the divine economy, the Creator of
the world has seen fit to place the treas
ures of the earth at the disposal of man.
He has made him steward over His estate,
with perfect liberty to follow his own
judgment, and to carry out any plans he
may form, subject only to certain regula-
tions necessary to the happiness and
we'll being of all His creatures. Thus
every intelligent person comes into a
stewardship as by actual inheritance, and
to him is committed the performance of
certain duties growing out of his position
and his opportunities. The possession of
health, wealth and intelligence calls for
corresponding increase of responsibility
in the steward. A man who recklessly
ruins his heath in the pursuits OF pleasure
or vice squanders the treasures committed
to his trust, and proves but an unfaithful
steward. To some men are given oppor-
tunities to learn the laws of nature and
science and thus they become, in a mea
sure, the custodians of knowledge, and
are required to use their power for
the benefit of their fellowmen. But when
lawyer stirs up hatred and strife, ag
gravates quarrels, and estranges friends
to secure clients and retaining fees; when
physician pronounces hypochondrical
person, a victim of some chronic malady
to gain wealthy patient; when a cler
gyman is blind and deaf to the sins of
the rich members of his congregation,
what are they all but dishonest stewards?
To them has been given the ability to
render more excellent service to their
Master and they prostitute their talent
to the work of the devil.
When the seller pronounces his
goods perfect in every respect, and
takes, in return for scanty measure,
the hard earned money of the poor;
when he sells to trusting customers
shoddy material under the name of pure
wool; when the merchant adulterates his
-four or sugar, or sells villainous con-
coction of his own for pure health restor-
ing medicine, thereby cheating another,
not only out of his money, but in many
cases of his life, or the lives of those dear
to him; how stands their stewardship
God has make mankind treasurers, not
only of his wealth, but of time and oppor-
tunities. No PERSONS money, education
or power is his possession to employ as it
pleases himself; he is but the almoner of
the Creators bounty, the guardian of the
rights of his fellowmen.
The Office of steward is not a dependant
of any church, it is the inheritance of
every rational human being, and, as he
shall prove faithful OF unfaithful in his
business and social relations, will he be
judged worthy or unworthy to be en-
trusted with etrue riches.' Is it posi-
BILE for man who cheats his associates
in business to be honest with God? If he
has proved faithless in little things will
he be trustworthy in greater ones? Would
it not be well for every one, PROCESSING
Christian or unbeliever, saint or sinner
to take account of his stewardship, that
when the :sLord cometh and reckonetf
with His servants he may not be con-
fronted with the solemn inquiry Ell
therefore We have net been faithful in the
unrighteous mammon, who will commit
to your trust the true riches'