The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-14

upon Cnem. Ineref ere QallY ueeus
which attach both to the Individual and
to the family.
We read of the Indians that they are
improvident, slothful, and have nc
forethought, They hunt, fish, thereby
getting enough day by day to provide
for their wants while the season is
pleasant and comfortable. tits evident
that they do not think of the coming
winter, nor that there will be need of
food, shelter and clothing when the
chilling blasts and whitening SHOWS
shall beat about the cabin. AS con-
sequence they suffer, their families suf-
fer, because when they had the season
in which provisions were plenty, the
time when they might have laid in store
for the more severe weather, they would
not do it. They took no thought for
the future.
What should we think Of the civilized
man who followed the example Of the
Indian? Even some cf the wild beasts
can teach us better than that. Led by
instinct they lay in store for an unfavor-
able season, while the Indian with his
intelligence allows the day of opportun-
ity to pass unemployed, not utilized.
Recall some home in which are
parents and children. The fathers
income is moderate. What little
amount he can he saves. Shelter, food,
fuel are provided, and perhaps each
week or month finds dollar laid by.
When sufficient time has passed the
father buys piece of land. Years roll
on. He builds a house'and, furnishes it.
BY dint of hard labor be still saves little
by little. Finally death takes him to
the better home. His estate is settled,
and it is discovered that he has left a
comfortable support for those depend
ent upon him. Do we not admire
that man? DO we not call him godly?
If he has been correct in other things,
do we not consider his cars for those
whom he leaves as an added Christian
virtue? Do we not enter his name on
the roll of good men?s
So, we say, money-getting, property
accumulation, is legitimate for all, the
Christian included. For if there is one
thing that should characterize the Chris
tian, it is such prudence as provides for
dependent ones. If there be none of
our own blood or kindred to assist, we
should seek those outside of our family
circles
But there is a degree to which the
accumulation of rich can be carried,
and beyond which tits not right There
is a circle within which this endeavor
will be approved Of men and Of God.
Yet when a man oversteps those bound
aries his actions are net approved, and
condemnation rests upon him.
How often does the public press
bring us the tidings of the death of
some poor, poverty stricken person!
The public official searches the rude
and despicable habitation only to find,
hidden in some corner or out-of-the-W way
place, a pile of gold or its equivalent.
This person has been gaining property,
and has doubtless day by day taken out
his treasure, bowling his human soul in
reverence before it, He is a miser.
His riches benefit neither himself nor
the world. Such wealth is illegitimate.
The covetous spirit rules all else. And
the miser is-just what the word indi-
cates-beyond the proper degree in his
eagerness for money.
In spirit somewhat miserly is the
activity of the great money kings
The railroads are often built that by
competition another line must fail to
pay dividends and the stockholders be
forced to sell at such low figure that
the king" may get control. The tele-
graph companies that compete and then
consolidate for the interest of money
manipulation; and the corners which
carry dollars to the treasury of the few
all this is the getting of money illegit-
imately. Conscience pronounces it as
wrong. 1t is beyond the proper and
safe degree.
This saving of money and the accu
mutation of wealth must not be carried
so far that we shall come to "lOre'
money. To this we are liable. This is
one of the temptations to which our
better selves is likely to surrender.
Remember, the heart can serve but
one master. The hearts love can be
given to but one. This was what
Christ declared when he said: "Either
he will love the one and hate the other,
or he will cleave to the one and despise
the other" If we get to loving money,
we shall hate God. And it is in this
hatred OF God that begins with that
Glove of money" which is ''the root of
all evil" Judas represents the man
who loves money. He gave his soul
for thirty pieces of silver. The Roman
soldiers at the sepulchre sold themselves
to the Jews for money.
Wealth getting has limit. 1t affords
happiness up to a certain degree. That