Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-09-29
A CHRISTIAN IN ALL THINGS.

We read the other day of an act of
Christian unselishness which is well
worth recalling. A farmer died last
month in Ohio, leaving q large family
of children and a considerable tract Of
land. Some years ago he had decided
forty acres of the land to one of his sons,
and leased all the rest to him for thirty
two years. By this means the other
children were cut off from any share in
their fathers estate for a very long
period. Their lawyer wisely advised
them not to undertake a legal contest,
and suggested a conference with the
fortunate brother. To the astonish-
ment of all concerned, after a brief con-
v%ersation he tore up the lease, and said
the land covered by it should be equally
divided among the others, he himself
retaining only the forty acres decided to
him. He explained this unexpected ac-
ton, so different from that commonly
taken in similar circumstances, by say
ing that he was a Christian, and could
not conscientiously leave his brothers
and sisters ''out in the cold" :
According to the worlds way of
looking at things, this was a very sin
gular, not TO say absurd, proceeding.
EVERY man for HIMSELF g look out
for number one," "get all you can,
and keep all you geth-these are the
maxims most in favor when questions
of property or money-making are con
cerned. Those who act on them are
not always willing to acknowledge the
fact, even to themselves; none the less
they square their conduct by the in
tensely selfish principle embodied in
them. So much, apparently, of pres
ent prosperity and future comfort and
security depend upon the acquisition
of money that, in their eagerness to
acquire it, men grow impatient of the
restraints of conscience, and resolutely
harden themselves against all the gen
erous impulses and affection which
ought to control their dealings with
others. In such a case as that above
cited, they say to themselves: "This
property was left to me; why shouldn't
l enjoy it? Let the others shift for
themselves" In business they learn to
employ all sorts of "tricks of trade"
in order to get the better of their fell
lows. In politics, to what immeasur-
able depths Of meanness, duplicity and
corruption will they not descend for the.
sake OF victory and a chance at " the
spoils." And the same low view of
what is right and honorable largely af-
fects the dealings of men with n
another in every department of life.
We need not say that this selfish
spirit has nothing in common with
1.-the mind which was in Christ jesus
the large-hearted, unselfish spirit of
the Gospel. every man for himself,''
and "do to others as We would that they
should do you,'' are two very different
principles of human conduct. It is use
less to try to reconcile them. Yet how
many Christian men, misled by a fever
lsh haste to be rich, or bv an anxious
desire to promote some cause, good in
itself, in which they are deeply inter-
ested, are continually attempting this
impossible task! And what strange
things they will do, and Justify. them
selves in doing them, on the spec
ious plea that they can not otherwise
succeed in accomplishing their under
undertakings. Ii that be so, better not
succeed! For the reason that every
Christian is bound by his allegiance to
Cnilst, 10 ACT IN all things on q high
er principal than that of mere
worldly s%elf-interest. What if it
does prevent his making none
as fast as his neighbor? What
if his cherished plans do fail
because he will not stoop to under
handed means to accomplish themP
Suppose it does constrain him to be
fair and honest in dividing an Inherit
ance, to his own pecuniary loss? If he
is a true Christian, he will 'scount it all
joy' to do the right and noble thing in
every case, even when he knows that
he will suffer loss by doing it.
Christian highmindedness is one of
the virtues that will bear a good deal
OF careful cultivation in this evil world.
There are so many temptations to
swerve FROM the path of absolute. un-